Only on November 6, two policemen died on duty, taking the toll to eight in the past two months. If the proposal is approved, it will entail an additional burden of Rs 5.4 crore on the state exchequer.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) Ajit Prasanis told The Indian Express that the deaths of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ramchandra Bansode (56) of the Dadar police and Samuel Sathe (52) of the Vile Parle police had sent a wave of panic through the rank and file. Therefore, compulsory health check-upsnotwithstanding, the police administration had decided that immediate recruitment was the only way to halt the current spate of cardiac arrest, he added.

To cushion the punishing hours most officers work for more than 12 hours and during festivals for 72 hours at a stretch -- the administration has also decided to organise yoga and meditation camps, besides instituting compulsory medical check-ups. Besides, personnel found particularly susceptible to stress will be assigned duties that are less stressful.

Traffic police, sources in the administration point out, are especially vulnerable to heart disease with pollution levels in Mumbai posing their own health risks. In fact, studies indicate that more than 10 per cent of the 2,300-odd personnel posted for traffic duty have a history of respiratory ailments.