Srinagar, July 12 -- An Indian IT startup shut down without warning, laying off all 19 of its employees during an unexpected video call-leaving workers stunned and jobless. The incident came to light through a Reddit post that has since gone viral, drawing widespread criticism and sparking discussions around startup culture and employee treatment.

According to the Redditor, what began as an ordinary workday at the four-year-old startup-specializing in cloud and chatbot management-took a shocking turn when the CEO abruptly called for an all-hands meeting. During the call, the CEO revealed that the company had exhausted its funds, all investors had pulled out, and the business was closing down with immediate effect. Employees were told the...