In yet another tragic incident, a section of the 50-year-old Majerhat bridge on the arterial Diamond Harbour Road in south Kolkata collapsed on Tuesday evening, leaving one dead, trapping several people and crushing many vehicles. The search and rescue operation is still underway to clear the place.
A phrase once common at pumps across Calcutta is among the biggest casualties of the spiralling fuel prices. From private vehicles to yellow cabs, “tank full” or “pura tanki” was the choice of a significant section of vehicles at pumping stations every day.
Not any more.
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Motorists are now opting for smaller refills because of the steep rise in the prices of petrol and diesel. Several car owners said their fuel consumption had not gone down drastically but they were cutting down on travel wherever possible and their buying pattern had definitely changed.
Many have been forced to curtail the use of cars. Instead, they have been sharing a car with colleagues to work. Some others have stopped going out on long drives.
The service, which began over a month ago at the Gurdwara Behala, reached the Sola Ana Masjid in Ekbalpore and Sacred Heart Church in Esplanade over a fortnight ago