Apple Hosur plant fire: Tata Electronics to resume partial ops from today

Tata Electronics announced its plans to resume partial operations today at its Hosur plant in Tamil Nadu after a major fire erupted on September 28, which brought production to a standstill. This facility manufactures components for Apple iPhones.

“The safety and well-being of our employees is always our top priority, and we’ve been working diligently since Saturday to support our team and to identify the cause of the fire at our Hosur facility.  We plan to restart work in many areas of the facility today.  And as we work toward resuming full operations, all our team members will continue to receive full pay,” says a Tata Electronics spokesperson.

Apple has reportedly sent a team to Tata Electronics’ plant in Tamil Nadu. It was reported that the supplier responsibility team from the Cupertino-based company has been at the site since September 29, a day after the incident, to provide guidance as part of their routine procedure in such cases. It has been reported that the fire at the plant started in a section designated for chemical storage, resulting in minor injuries to 10 individuals and causing a halt in production.

The incident resulted in injuries to two workers, who were hospitalised immediately following the event. At the time of the fire, over 1,500 workers were present at the factory.

The Tamil Nadu facility manufactures crucial back panels and various components for iPhones. Additionally, another building within the same complex is scheduled to start iPhone assembly by year-end.

“There has been an unfortunate incident of fire at our plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Our emergency protocols at the plant ensured that all our employees are safe. The cause of the fire is under investigation and we will take necessary actions to safeguard the interest of our employees and other stakeholders,” Tata Electronics released an official statement on the incident.

During the recent trip to the U.S. on September 10, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, announced on the social media platform X that Jabil Inc., an American contract manufacturer for Apple, plans to establish a new electronics manufacturing facility in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, with an investment of ₹2,000 crore. The CM highlighted that this initiative is anticipated to create 5,000 jobs in the area.