Tata Electronics announced on Thursday that it will begin to partially resume operations at its fire-damaged plant in Tamil Nadu, which manufactures components for Apple iPhones. A fire broke out early Saturday in one of the six units of the facility, specifically in an area where chemicals were stored, according to local fire and government officials.
A company spokesperson stated We plan to restart work in many areas of the facility today. While we work towards resuming full operations, all our team members will continue to receive their full pay.
District authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, and the Director of Industries for Tamil Nadu has granted the company permission to restart its operations, as confirmed by district administrative official K.M. Sarayu.
M. Velu, a district fire officer, mentioned that the extent of the damage remains unclear, stating, We will have more information only after the debris is cleared. The entire shed has collapsed, making it difficult to assess the damages.
This incident marks the latest challenge for Apple suppliers in India as the company seeks to diversify its supply chain beyond China. The fire could disrupt production just ahead of the festive sales surge, raising concerns among industry observers about potential impacts on supply during this critical period.