Tamil Nadu authorities have ordered Tata Electronics to submit a detailed Action Taken Report after three contract workers died from suspected toxic gas exposure during maintenance work at the company’s Effluent Treatment Plant in Krishnagiri district, with the facility barred from resuming operations until safety compliance is verified.
Krishnagiri district collector C Dinesh Kumar told Economic Times that the company has been directed to review the performance and safety compliance of the agencies responsible for maintaining the plant. The report must cover the circumstances that led to the accident, lapses identified, corrective measures taken and a preventive action plan to ensure that similar incidents do not recur.
Officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health are conducting a detailed inspection of the facility. The review will examine procedures for maintenance work, including confined-space entry, gas monitoring, personal protective equipment and emergency rescue arrangements, Kumar said.
The accident occurred on Monday evening at a utility facility operated by Nalco Water, according to a statement from the company. Nalco Water said it was working with local authorities in the investigation and that safety was a core value across its operations and the sites where it works. Queries sent to Tata Electronics and Apple had not received a response at the time of publication.
According to the district collector’s account, maintenance of the effluent treatment plant had been entrusted to Nalco Water International, which engaged four workers through another agency, Permacorp. The workers were assigned to clean the exterior of a nanofiltration tank when one of them reportedly looked inside and noticed sludge at the bottom.
The worker is suspected to have inhaled toxic gases, lost consciousness and fallen into the tank. A supervisor, identified as Kaveri, then directed an electrician to enter the tank to help with the rescue. The electrician also lost consciousness and fell inside, after which the supervisor reportedly entered the tank and suffered a similar fate. The fourth worker left to seek assistance. Three workers died in the incident.
The inspection is focused on whether required safeguards were followed before and during entry into or work around the tank. The authorities have not announced the findings of the investigation or identified the specific gas involved. The district administration is monitoring the situation and has said necessary safety measures must be implemented before the ETP is allowed to operate again.
Kumar said there was no proposal to shut down the entire Tata Electronics plant at present. The restriction applies to the effluent treatment plant, which can resume operations only after the concerned authorities verify compliance with safety requirements and issue the necessary clearance.
Tamil Nadu industries minister S Keerthana expressed condolences to the families and said she had directed the district administration to provide necessary support. She said the incident would be thoroughly investigated and that appropriate action would follow the findings. The next formal steps are the completion of the safety inspection, submission of Tata Electronics’ Action Taken Report and the authorities’ decision on clearance for restarting the ETP.
