Pimpri: A technical glitch in Microsoft's server on Friday, July 19, brought IT operations to a standstill in Hinjewadi, Talawade, and surrounding areas.

The outage, which lasted from 9 AM to 4 PM, left laptops and computers unusable, causing significant disruption for employees who couldn't log in to their systems. IT professionals reported that work began to resume slowly after Microsoft provided an alternative solution around 4 PM.

The unexpected server downtime had a global impact, affecting various sectors, including banking, aviation, and IT. IT companies in Hinjewadi were notably impacted, with many experiencing server issues starting at 9 AM.

Computers and laptops displayed blue screens, halting all work. Despite attempts to restart, the problems persisted. Hinjewadi, home to approximately 125 IT companies, along with areas like Talawade, Aundh, Baner, Balewadi, and Vishrantwadi, faced significant disruptions. Many well-known companies had to give their employees an unplanned day off.

The downtime sparked conversations on social media, with many joking about starting the weekend a day early. Memes circulated widely, highlighting the blue screen issues and work stoppages.

Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), stated, "The problem began at 9 AM and continued until 4 PM. Microsoft provided an alternative solution after 4 PM."

Sandeep Belsare, President of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Small Scale Entrepreneurs Association, noted that the automobile sector did not experience any significant impact, and there were no reports of work stoppages.

Jitendra Nikhal, Administration Officer at Faurecia India Pvt. Ltd., mentioned that their company uses different software, so their operations were not affected.