Three Workers Die of Asphyxiation at Tata Electronics Factory in Hosur

Three contract workers died of asphyxiation late on Monday, November 9, 2026, while cleaning a water tank at a Tata Electronics factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The factory makes parts for Apple iPhones, and the deaths happened during maintenance work on the plant's water tank.

The workers were cleaning a nano-filtration feed tank at the facility's effluent treatment plant. The plant is operated by Nalco Water, a subsidiary of US-based Ecolab, and the workers had been employed by one of Nalco Water's sub-contractors, according to Inc42 reporting on Reuters.

How the three men died

One worker fainted after looking inside the tank and inhaling gas, according to The New Indian Express as reported by Inc42. The other two entered the tank to check on him and also collapsed. All three workers were declared dead on arrival at hospital.

Reuters, cited by the Sowetan, reported that the deaths happened late on Monday, November 9, during maintenance work on a water tank at the facility. A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the three workers died of asphyxiation.

The plant and the contractor chain

The Hosur factory makes parts for Apple iPhones. The tank the men were cleaning was a nano-filtration feed tank inside the facility's effluent treatment plant, and the work was maintenance on the plant's water tank system late on Monday night. Nalco Water operates the effluent treatment plant. Nalco Water is a subsidiary of US-based Ecolab. The three workers were not direct Tata Electronics staff on the reports available: they had been employed by one of Nalco Water's sub-contractors.

The reports did not name the three workers, and they did not identify the gas inside the tank. They also did not say how long the men were inside the tank before they were found.

An inquiry and questions about safety

The plant is near Uddanapalli in Krishnagiri district. Krishnagiri Collector C Dinesh Kumar said there were no proper safety measures in place while handling the effluent treatment plant, and that the district administration is inquiring into the incident, according to TelecomLive.

Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Virudhai Magal Keerthana said in a post on X that the incident will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings, as reported by Reuters via Business Standard.

Tata Electronics did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. In reports published on November 10, Reuters reported that the deaths will be investigated by Apple, Tata Electronics and local authorities.