This story is from July 12, 2019

Darjeeling: Accident prompts taxi syndicates to issue safety directives for drivers

Darjeeling: Accident prompts taxi syndicates to issue safety directives for drivers
Rescue operations on at the Teesta on Thursday
Wednesday's accident near Coronation Bridge on National Highway 10 came as a wake-up call for tour operators and taxi syndicates of Darjeeling that ferry tourists to Sikkim and other destinations.
DARJEELING: Wednesday's accident near Coronation Bridge on National Highway 10 came as a wake-up call for tour operators and taxi syndicates of Darjeeling that ferry tourists to Sikkim and other destinations.
Taxi syndicates and tour operators there, who hire vehicles for their clients, have asked the drivers to refrain from speeding on the narrow and slippery roads. "Looking at the severe monsoon and the accident, we have asked the drivers not to talk on phone while driving and keep watch above the roads for landslides," said Naresh Yonzon, a senior member of the United Taxi Syndicate.
Drivers have also been asked to refrain from overtaking other vehicles near sharp bends.
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Rescue operations are on to recover the bodies of Aman Garg (26) and Gaurav Sharma (24) and the driver Rakesh Rai (34). Their vehicle veered off the road near the Coronation Bridge and fell into the Teesta.
Aloke Bhattacharya, owner of Darjeeling Transport Corporation, one of the oldest car rentals of Darjeeling said young and inexperienced drivers had a tendency for rash driving. His company, he said, hired drivers with experience.
"We have drivers with experience of over fifteen years and, hence, we don't have problems. However, nowadays young drivers drive recklessly at times, endangering their and the passengers, lives," he said. Bhattacharya added that tourists should refrain from travelling in extreme conditions during the monsoons, given that the Hills are prone to frequent landslides.
Cops said they had begun their monsoon drills - especially those aimed at ensuring safe driving in inclement weather.
"One of the key areas is to have information about landslides and blocked roads. We are trying to share information received through PWD and other sources with the car associations at the various vehicle stands. In addition, reporting potholes and immediate repairs remain areas of concerns," ADG (traffic) Vivek Sahai told TOI.
"Besides, it is extremely important that markers are visible from a distance. We are trying to employ civic volunteers to work on edge markers and ensure that sharp bends are not slippery," an officer said.
DC (traffic) Siliguri city police Atul Viswanathan said a campaign had been launched on the city outskirts to curb overloading of vehicles.
(With inputs from Dwaipayan Ghosh in Kolkata)
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