Ashok Leyland’s Covid woe

THE Hinduja group’s flagship firm, Ashok Leyland, on Monday (3) said it has curtailed production at its manufacturing plants in India due to dip in demand with the second wave of Covid-19 sweeping across the country.

“The demand outlook for all our products is expected to be affected temporarily. Accordingly, the operations of our plants have been scaled down and are expected to work for seven-15 days in May. We will continue to respond to the Covid situation in the country as it unfolds,” Ashok Leyland said in a regulatory filing.

It is the second largest commercial vehicle maker in India.

The Chennai-based company said it would continue to meet the requirement of defence vehicles and also ensure support of essential parts and aggregates for commercial vehicles, enabling movement of essential goods and services.

A task force responsible for managing Covid protocols revisited standard operating procedures and ensured safety procedures at its plants, it said.

Innoculation of employees and families was being enabled through vaccination camps across all facilities, it added.