Kolkata taxis to take break in sweltering heat

Citing the death of two cab drivers in the city on account of the rising mercury, the Bengal Taxi Association on Saturday announced it would not run any cabs between 11.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to avoid such incidents.

It has also written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the state's transport secretary.

"This is the first time drivers have died on duty and under such circumstances, we have decided from 11.30 a.m. to 4 p.m., we will not run any cabs. However, if somebody wishes to run their taxi, we will not oppose it", the association's general secretary, Bimal Guha, said.

On Saturday, a cab driver identified as Shatrughan Poddar (52) was found lying unconscious inside his taxi near Jadavpur. He was later declared dead due to suspected heat-stroke at a hospital, police said.

Another cab driver died on Friday due to suspected heat stroke in the city.

Guha said the decision had been taken on humanitarian grounds to avoid such deaths.

"We have written to the chief minister and the transport secretary about this and have appealed to them so that the police do not fine us for refusing passengers between 11.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.," he said.

The association, in its letter to the chief minister, has also asked for compensation for the two deaths.

The Met department has predicted hotter days ahead.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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