The Mumbai police force, tasked with protecting a city

of over two crore population, remains 18 per cent short of the sanctioned strength of 41,401 personnel as on July last year, police said. RTI activist Chetan Kothari, who sought the information, said the deaths due to cardiac arrests were caused due to heavy work load coupled with long working hours. "Most of the lower-rung policemen died of these ailments. The department, which is responsible to keep Mumbai city safe, is not healthy at all," Kothari said. Policemen admit that long working hours and shortage of staff are causing stress on the existing work force. Government-run J J hospital's dean T P Lahane said irregular timings of intake of food and work tension are the main causes of deadly diseases. "If these two (taking food on time and reduction in stress) are taken care of, then one can remain fit."