Seventeen workers at the Manesar plant of auto giant Maruti Suzuki, who were tested positive of COVID-19 have disappeared, reports stated on Tuesday.

The workers, who belong to a third-party firm called SIS India, are part of plant’s security team and had tested positive for the infectious disease on June 17. After testing positive medical professionals had asked these workers to isolate themselves at home.

An FIR has now been lodged at Industrial Sector-7, Manesar against the missing employees and their manager for the disappearing act.

According to the FIR lodged by the government doctor posted at PHC Bhangrola, Gurugram, the workers tested positive for COVID-19 on June 17, and their manager was informed on the same day about their status.

As per the FIR, the manager informed the health authorities that the workers have been quarantined and were asymptomatic.

“But when our medical team reached the site on June 18, all these 17 patients have already left without any information. This is for your information and action to be taken as per Disaster Management Act,” the FIR read.

When contacted, a Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) spokesperson confirmed the incident.

“The people in question who tested positive are not Maruti Suzuki employees. They are outsourced/contractual vigilance staff deputed with Maruti Suzuki. The Company is following all the Government guidelines and directives and will extend all assistance and cooperation wherever required,” company said in a statement.

The company is following all the government guidelines and directives and will extend all assistance and cooperation wherever required, a spokesperson told PTI.

MSI, however, did not say if the production at the plant has been impacted because of employees involved in security process turning out to be COVID-19 positive.

Comments from SIS India could not be obtained at the time of reporting.

In May, the company had reported one coronavirus case at the Manesar plant.

The auto major had resumed operations at Manesar plan in May after around 50 days of closure due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The facility produces high selling models like Alto, Swift, Dzire, S-Presso, Ertiga and Baleno.

The company’s other plant at Gurugram rolls out models like S-Cross, Vitara Brezza, Ignis and Super Carry light commercial vehicle.

The Manesar and Gurugram plants have a combined installed capacity to churn out over 15.5 lakh vehicles per annum.

Besides MSI, Hyundai Motor India and Toyota Kirloskar Motor have also reported COVID-19 cases at their respective manufacturing plants.