For the past few days, mercury is refusing to go below 40 degree Celsius but undeterred by the hot and humid condition, traffic cops are doing their duty.
For the past few days, mercury is refusing to go below 40 degree Celsius but undeterred by the hot and humid condition, traffic cops are doing their duty in the scorching sun. But the absence of traffic posts at most of the crossroads has added to their woes.
Working for almost 12 hours at a stretch, 19 out of 232 constables, manning 70 traffic posts in the city, have fallen ill in the last few days. As a precautionary measure, some have even started carrying medicines with them.
All the 19, including two are assistant sub-inspectors and two women constables, are suffering from dehydration and are being treated by government doctors.
Sources from the traffic police station said that constable Anil Singh’s condition was serious and was given four bottles of saline at the Sadar hospital yesterday. “Singh is now recovering at his house,” an official at traffic police station said.
Currently only 170 traffic cops are managing traffic flow in the city. “The total strength of the traffic police is 232, including 41 women. Out of them, 62 are on leave and two have been suspended. Of those who are on leave, 19 are on sick leave while 12 women are on special leave,” he said.
An officer at the district police headquarters said that problems would continue till all the sanctioned posts of the traffic constables are filled. Umbrellas and packets of glucose were distributed on Friday among traffic constables at different posts across the city. A constable at Kanta Toli Chowk said, “What will we do with an umbrella? We cannot direct traffic holding an umbrella in one hand. Arrangements should be made to fix the umbrella with a leather holder to our uniforms.”
Talking to DNA, traffic superintendent of police DJ Sharma said that electronic signalling system could lessen their workload. “It is difficult to think about an ideal work condition for the traffic police personnel without an electronic signalling system. The system will help keep vigil on the movement of traffic from a control room and enable constables to respond quickly in cases of violation of traffic rules,” he said.
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