It felt like a bomb explosion, say locals after the fire at Tata’s factory in Hosur
According to the sources, around 1,500 employees, mainly from the morning shift, were present at the Hosur facility when the fire broke out on Saturday | Photo: PTI
The Tata Electronics branch that caught fire on Saturday remained cordoned off on Sunday. A local police team was seen there. Factory security personnel did not allow this reporter into the factory.
“No one is allowed to enter unless there is permission from management,” the security official there said.
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Residents of a sleepy village near Hosur, Tamil Nadu, were woken up by a loud explosion on Saturday morning after a massive fire broke out in the unit.
The factory, located in the Krishnagiri district, makes parts for Apple iPhones. Although the flames were ultimately contained, the incident caused significant disruptions to operations and the production line.
The factory is a two and a half hour drive from Bengaluru.
According to sources, around 1,500 workers, mainly in the morning shift, were present at the unit when the fire broke out. All employees were evacuated and there were no casualties or injuries.
“There was a big noise – like a bomb explosion – and there was a lot of smoke, as if clouds had settled on the ground,” said a resident there. “Suddenly fire alarms went off and the guards asked the employees to leave. It was a frightening situation.” Some employees had breathing problems. They were taken to a private hospital and are said to be stable.
“Medical staff came with emergency equipment to check on the people there,” said another resident.
Several firefighting teams from the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) rushed to the site. It took them a few hours to get the fire under control. Until Saturday evening, twelve fire engines continuously visited the location.
Residents said fumes were likely present in the building. Eyewitnesses said top government officials, including the district magistrate, police officers and members of the Legislative Assembly, have come to the factory since Saturday to take stock of the situation.
“An unfortunate fire incident occurred at our factory. Our factory emergency protocols have ensured that all our employees are safe. The cause of the fire is under investigation and we will take necessary action to safeguard the interests of our employees and other stakeholders,” a Tata Electronics spokesperson said.
Forensic investigation
The factory may not receive permission from the state government to resume production on Monday. According to some staff members, all employees working at the facility have been told to take seven days off. They said the phones of the employees working on the morning shift died in the fire. Employees are not allowed to take them into the factory and must keep them in the safe.
Authorities have reportedly begun a forensic investigation into the incident. The fire at the factory started in a room where chemicals were stored. Some employees working at the factory said that one of the reasons for the fire outbreak could be a short circuit in one of the CNC (computer numerical control) machines. Things haven’t been going well for the past seven days.
“The facility runs on Apple iPhone and everything is damaged – CNC machines, computers and CCTVs worth crores,” said an employee.
Tata Electronics is reportedly working on developing ‘advanced’ and complex high-precision machinery used to produce the iPhone’s casing. The machines are suitable for integration into the production lines of contract manufacturers serving global companies such as Apple.
The Tata group is reportedly testing these machines at the Hosur plant in phases. Part of the objective is to increase more of the local capacity.
Expansion and employment
The Hosur facility is an important part of the group’s expansion into electronics, especially in collaboration with technology giants such as Apple.
The fire incident took place when Tata Electronics was to start production at its iPhone assembly plant in Koothanapalli, Krishnagiri. Hosur will be the second iPhone assembly plant for Tata Electronics, following the acquisition of Taiwanese EMS player Wistron’s unit, which was two years in the making.
Tata Electronics is expected to invest around ~6,000 crore in the Hosur plant. It has invested a similar amount in the parts factory that supplies Apple at the same location.
First publication: September 30, 2024 | 12:20 pm IST