Shopping cart

Texas News App is your reliable source for real-time updates across Texas, covering Local News, Politics, Business, Sports, and more. With a focus on all 15 Texas regions, we bring the stories that matter most to communities statewide. Stay informed and connected with an app designed to reach Texans wherever they are.

TnewsTnews
  • Home
  • Business & Tech
  • A CEO says Delhi’s toxic smog has gotten so bad his workers can’t commute in it
Business & Tech

A CEO says Delhi’s toxic smog has gotten so bad his workers can’t commute in it

A CEO says Delhi’s toxic smog has gotten so bad his workers can’t commute in it
Email :43
Smog engulfs NH24 near the Akshardham Temple due to rise in pollution levels on November 18, 2024 in New Delhi, India.
Smog makes visibility poor on the roads in New Delhi, India.

  • New Delhi reported severe levels of air pollution this week.
  • Smog has led to school closures, a ban on construction, and flight disruptions.
  • Titus Koshy, CEO of United Consultancy Services Group, told BI his employees struggle to commute.

Air pollution in India’s capital, New Delhi, has become so severe that some people are struggling to commute to work.

Titus Koshy, CEO of United Consultancy Services Group which has more than 150 employees, told Business Insider that the toxic smog engulfing the city had made it difficult for his staff to come into the office.

“There’s so much confusion. People can’t reach the office, public transport is not accessible, it’s very disruptive and we’ve had to work from home,” he said.

Koshy added that some of his employees had complained about sore throats and viral infections over the past few weeks.

On Monday, the Air Quality Index in New Delhi was over 1,500, the BBC said, or 15 times the level the World Health Organization (WHO) deems satisfactory for breathing.

According to IQ Air, it improved to 186 on Thursday, a level still classed as “unhealthy.” The United States Environmental Protection Agency considers anything over 300 as “hazardous” to health.

On Tuesday, Delhi’s Chief Minister announced on X that schools would be shut and classes would be shifting online. Construction has also been banned in the city and some flights have been disrupted.

“These construction laborers are not going to be paid by anybody,” said Koshy. “They didn’t even let someone come in and install a geyser in my house. These workers will be impacted more than anyone else, what do they do?”

Delhi and the surrounding areas are home to offices of several multinational companies, including JP Morgan, KPMG, Cisco, and Mondelēz International.

Shubham Gupta, a consultant at KPMG, told BI that he tries to work from home as much as possible, but his company mandates in-office work at least two to three days a week. He wears an N-95 mask on those days, and relies on the office air purifier.

“Sometimes it hits my mind that I should leave Delhi, but after all, our livelihood is there, so how can we leave?” he said.

KPMG India said its teams can exercise the flexibility for remote working in consultation with their managers and based on their client commitments.

“All have been advised to travel to/from NCR/Delhi only if it’s business critical,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “Employee well-being continues to be our topmost priority and we will adapt ourselves as the situation evolves.”

Smog in the city is worse during the post-monsoon winter months, especially when it is combined with the annual Diwali festival, dust storms, and mass burning of crop residue from neighboring states.

A 2019 study by the World Bank estimated the global cost of health damages associated with exposure to air pollution to be $8.1 trillion.

Read the original article on Business Insider



This article was originally published by Hannah Abraham at All Content from Business Insider – Read this article and more at (https://www.businessinsider.com/extreme-delhi-smog-ceo-says-employees-cant-commute-pollution-health-2024-11).

General Content Disclaimer



The content on this website, including articles generated by artificial intelligence or syndicated from third-party sources, is provided for informational purposes only. We do not own the rights to all images and have not independently verified the accuracy of all information presented. Opinions expressed are those of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect our views. Reader discretion is advised, as some content may contain sensitive, controversial, or unverified information. We are not responsible for user-generated content, technical issues, or the accuracy of external links. Some content may be sponsored or contain affiliate links, which will be identified accordingly. By using this website, you agree to our privacy policy. For concerns, including copyright infringement (DMCA) notices, contact us at info@texasnews.app.

Comments are closed

Related Posts

0
YOUR CART
  • No products in the cart.