CITU seeks inquiry into role of Tata Electronics in death of three workers due to asphyxiation

Representational image. File | Photo Credit: V. Raju The CITU had demanded a wider investigation beyond the role of the contractor in the deaths of the three workers by asphyxiation inside a nano-filtration tank of the effluent treatment plant (ETP) at Tata Electronics Marigold plant in Vanniyarpuram, Nagamangalam.It has called for an inquiry into the responsibility of Tata Electronics as the principal employer in the deaths of the workers on Monday (November 9, 2026).The trade union has urged the authorities to investigate Tata Electronics Private Limited as it is the occupier of the site thereby attracting compliance under the Ocupation Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2022.The Occupation Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2022, Part 2, underlines the responsibilities of the occupier and the contractor. Section 6 underlines the responsibility of the occupier controlling the work site as the principal employer and vests statutory responsibilities of the workers, including contract workers, on the principal employer.The CITU has asked if the ETP cleaning qualified as confined space. If yes, were the protocols for such work was invoked? Was a gas detector and an oxygen meter installed, and were the workers provided with safety gear, it asked.District Collector C. Dinesh Kumar told The Hindu there was no need to enter the tank when there was a trap door for removing the sludge. Of the three victims, Akmal was a helper, who went down first and collapsed, followed by Sarathi Kumar, an electrical worker. Kaveri, who was the ETP in-charge supervisor, entered third to check on the two.Case against contractorAs of Wednesday, the police have registered a case of negligence naming Arjunan, a contractor of Nalco Water, who had subcontracted the ETP to Perma Tech Private Limited.On Tuesday, the families of the three deceased were offered a compensation of ₹30 lakh each by Nalco Water.G. Sridhar, treasurer of CITU, said, it was still a number that fell short of adequate compensation for the families. Published - November 11, 2026 09:15 pm IST