105 MSRTC bus staff contract Covid-19

At least 105 drivers and conductors of the MSRTC''s Sangli division, who were deployed in BEST buses in Mumbai earlier this month, have tested positive for Covid-19 af ter returning to Sangli, an official said.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) had hired buses, drivers and conductors from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) on contract for easing the woes of commuters in the state capital.

As part of the contract, nearly 400 drivers and conductors and 100 buses were sent to Mumbai from the MSRTC''s Sangli division in the second week of October. "Out of these 400 staff members, 105 drivers and conductors have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. All these employees underwent the antigen test af ter they returned to the division on October 25," the official from the MSRTC''s Sangli division said.The drivers and conductors who tested positive for the viral infection have been shif ted to various COVID-19 facilities in Sangli, the official said.

A driver who tested positive for coronavirus complained that they faced issues related to accommodation and food during their stay in Mumbai."For a couple of days, we had to sleep on road as there are no restrooms in their depots," the driver said."