Mobs loot water tankers as strike hits Rajasthan hard

Mobs loot water tankers as strike hits Rajasthan hard
RAJESH SINHA

JAIPUR, JANUARY 23: Mobs of thirsty residents looted water tankers, patients were turned away at government hospitals and those who had been admitted lay unattended as the strike by the state government employees continued in Rajasthan.

Worse appears to be in store for the people of Rajasthan with the municipal staff including scavengers threatening to join the strike from Monday. Rajasthan is also faced with the prospect of going without power for 24 hours beginning Sunday midnight employees of the State Electricity Board are on a day's token strike.

With the task of holding the panchayat elections tougher than ever, the state government on Saturday promulgated an ordinance introducing penal provision for government staff refusing election duty.

The district collectors have been authorised to take the services of trainee panchayat secretaries, patwaris and employees of state-funded institutions for elections .

As the state government hardened its stance, the employees' strike continued to intensify,crippling basic amenities. Disrupted water supply in many parts of the city forced thirsty residents out on the roads. Tankers carrying water were looted by mobs before they could reach their destination. Private tanker owners are reportedly making a killing, selling water at twice or thrice the normal rates. Protests were held in several colonies by residents who have been facing water shortage for five days running.

In government hospitals, wards were reported to be empty and only the very seriously ill were being admitted.

Patients coming from distant villages and towns were being turned away. Only emergency operations were being performed and the patients were told to go home and return after a week or ten days for getting the stitches removed.