CHENNAI: Following the accident last week (Nov 23) in which a 26-year-old TCS associate died after his two-wheeler skid while riding on Old Mahabalipuram Road, TCS has asked its employees to avoid using two-wheelers during rain. Further, in an internal mail sent to the employees on Tuesday after the city witnessed fresh spell of heavy rains, the IT major declared holiday to all its offices and asked the employees who reported to work to leave by noon.
“TCS buses will be transporting all associates today irrespective of bus passes. We would advise all associates, particularly who have come by two-wheelers, to avail TCS transportation or car pooling with your colleagues, wherever possible,” the mail read.
On Nov 23, S Gopinath, of Naatrampalli, Vellore district was riding back to his room in Sholinganallur from his Siruseri office when he met with an accident near Semmenchery. He suffered head injuries in spite of wearing a helmet. His body lied in the stagnant pool of rain water for over three hours with his friends standing guard as mortuary vans and the traffic investigation from Guindy couldn’t reach the scene due to heavy traffic owing to the rains.
According to a TCS employee, “When the first spell of heavy rains lashed the city after Deepavali, the offices were functioning. It took a fatal accident for them to realise the hazards and react accordingly.”
It wasn’t just TCS that decided to give their employees an early day off. Its competitors who have offices in Chennai also cut work days short. Cognizant Technology Solutions also let their people in the city go home early. In a statement, the company said that all their facilities in Chennai were operational despite heavy rains and flooding. “For employees who have chosen to stay back at our facilities to provide uninterrupted support to critical client projects, we have made the necessary accommodation and food arrangements,” said a company spokesperson.
Wipro, however, continued to work until usual hours. But not without making definite arrangements for the safe transport of personnel.