Team Herald
MAPUSA: In a bizarre incident, a newly-installed digital meter fitted in a taxi, caught fire due to short circuit, at Vagator, on Saturday.
In a swift move, while the AC was on, the taxi driver opened the doors and moved the customers out of the car safely.
The taxi driver said, “All of a sudden, I noticed fumes coming out from the bonnet of the car followed by fire. Witnessing the sudden fire, the guests panicked.” The taxi driver in a swift action opened the doors and got the customers out of the car safely while the AC was on.
As the news of fire incident spread the taxi operators from the area gathered at the spot. Police were called, who later conducted the panchanama.
The taxi operators lodged a police complaint against the company for providing faulty meters thereby putting the life of people at risk. The taxi operators threatened to protest if the Anjuna Police failed to take action against the company.
“From now on, we will stop installing meters. The company officials and Transport Department should have face-to-face discussion with the taxi operators and resolve the issue within 24 hours,” the taxi operators demanded.
They said if any casualty had taken place then the government would have blamed the taxi operator/driver and the customers would have claimed compensation from him.
“We have filed a complaint against the company and expect the Anjuna Police to take action. Also the government should resolve the issue within 24 hours failing which further course of action will be taken,” they claimed. Blaming the company as well as the government, the taxi operators said only after installing the meter the vehicle caught fire and got damaged.
Taxi operator Kishor Phadte, whose vehicle was damaged, said when he had gone to install the digital meter, it was found faulty as there were sparks while fitting the same. Later, the second meter was installed which now caught fire after four days. Phadte said, “The meter installed is faulty and of poor quality as the installation work was done haphazardly.”
Taxi operators claimed that they had earlier informed the Transport Department about the faulty digital meters but nobody listened to them and forced them to install. The company should show them who is at fault and whom to blame. They said the damage caused should be borne by the company and alleged scam in the fitment of digital meters.
Taxi operators complained of police harassment despite possessing the meter receipts.
