Three workers die at Tata’s iPhone parts factory in India

Three contract workers have died at a Tata Electronics factory producing components for Apple’s iPhones in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu, raising fresh concerns over workplace safety at one of the company’s key manufacturing sites.

The incident occurred late Monday during maintenance work at an effluent treatment plant located in Hosur, according to district official Dinesh Kumar.

The workers reportedly inhaled toxic gas while inspecting an external nano-filtration tank. All three died following the incident, officials said.

The treatment facility was operated by Nalco Water, a subsidiary of US-based Ecolab. The circumstances surrounding the deaths are expected to be investigated by Apple, Tata Electronics and state authorities.

The incident adds to a series of challenges faced by Tata Electronics as it expands its role in Apple’s manufacturing operations in India.

The company has recently dealt with a ransomware attack and concerns over water pollution at its iPhone manufacturing facilities. The latest deaths have further drawn attention to safety and operational conditions at the site.

Tata Electronics is a major part of Apple’s growing manufacturing network in India. Its operations account for around 40% of iPhone assembly in the country, while Foxconn handles much of the remaining production.

India has become an increasingly important manufacturing base for Apple as the company seeks to reduce its dependence on China. The country now accounts for approximately 25% of global iPhone production.

The deaths come at a time when Apple is expanding its supply chain and manufacturing capacity in India. The investigations are expected to establish the exact circumstances behind the workers’ deaths and determine whether safety procedures were properly followed.