Companies invoke alternate plans IT hub, Shutdown at Chennai's

CHENNAI: Chennai's IT corridor -- encompassing OMR Road, Velaccheri, Tambaram, Taramani, GST Road, Tiruvanmiyar and Kelambackam -- has been flooded, with water entering the canteen and basements of the companies located in the area. Heavy downpour have hit operations of IT companies in Chennai -- one of the leading IT destination in the country -- but the firms say that they have invoked alternative measures to ensure there is no impact on critical services.Most of the offices in the city, including that of IT companies, remained closed today due to heavy rains with leading Indian firm Infosys deciding to remain closed tomorrow as well due to flooding at its premise. Some companies have given employees the option of work from home.IBM, Cognizant, Infosys and other technology companies with significant presence in Chennai have been forced to relocate key personnel and functions to neighbouring Bengaluru and other cities to avoid disruption to business.In light of the rains and flooding in Chennai, Infosys campuses in the city were closed on December 2 and we have also declared a holiday on December 3. Our teams in Chennai have been working with local authorities to get employees stranded across the city to return home safely," an Infosys spokesperson said.Infosys said that flooding at its both campuses is under control and the water levels have started receding.Our business continuity plans have been activated and we have taken necessary actions to ensure client commitments are met, which includes managing work from other locations," the spokesperson said. Cognizant which has its largest office in Chennai with 60,000 people across 11 facilities in the city said that some of its employees have stayed back in office to support critical services while some have travelled to other cities to support operations."In view of the situation resulting from incessant rains in Chennai and the meteorological department's forecast of heavy rains, Cognizant offices in Chennai are closed today, December 2. However, there is no disruption to work on critical projects and 24x7 operations support," Cognizant spokesperson said in response to an email query.

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