Tata's iPhone plant halts production indefinitely after major fire incident
What's the story
A recent fire incident has led to an indefinite halt in production at a Tata Electronics plant in Tamil Nadu, which manufactures components for iPhones.
The incident, which occurred early on Saturday, resulted in minor injuries to 10 individuals and disrupted operations.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by officials who are also working on damage control and debris removal from the site.
Supply disruption
Impact on Apple's supply chain in India
The fire at the Tata Electronics plant is the latest hiccup for Apple's iPhone supply chain in India.
This comes at a time when the company is keen on moving away from China and sees India as a major growth market.
M Velu, district fire officer told Reuters, "We have stationed fire engines at the plant as there are chances of a follow-up fire incident or smoke coming off when the sheds that had fallen during the accident are removed."
Safety measures
Tata Electronics assures employee safety post-fire
Tata Electronics is currently looking into what caused the fire that broke out at its factory in Tamil Nadu.
The company has assured everyone that its emergency protocols worked well, keeping all employees safe.
A spokesperson for Tata Electronics mentioned, "Our emergency protocols at the plant ensured that all employees are safe."
As of now, rescue teams are still working on clearing debris and checking the site, which has suffered extensive damage.
Production impact
Fire's origin and affect on iPhone assembly
According to a fire official, the fire reportedly broke out in a section meant for chemical storage.
The plant is responsible for making important back panels and other parts for iPhones.
Interestingly, another building in the same complex was set to kick off iPhone assembly later this year.
However, it's still uncertain how this recent fire incident at the Tata Electronics plant has impacted those plans.
Damage assessment
Extent of damage and evacuation
After visiting the Tata plant on Sunday, District Collector KM Sarayu shared images showing extensive damage to the building, machinery, and ceilings.
Shilpa Prabhakar Satish, a senior Indian health official who also visited the site, described it as "very badly burnt and (there was) absolutely no visibility inside."
She further added that "The structure was falling, the roof was falling. No one could even go inside."
Injury report
Employee count and injury details
Sarayu confirmed that 523 workers were on shift when the fire broke out early morning. She also stated that all workers had been evacuated and accounted for.
J Saravanan, a senior district official responsible for industrial safety, clarified that the injuries were all related to smoke inhalation.
Following the fire, production was halted and employees were sent home for the day.