Occupational hazard

Homeguards deployed to rid Kolkata of traffic jams are themselves grappling with congestion, albeit of a different kind.Close to 50 per cent of them have been found to be suffering from lung disorders, states an ongoing study of the Allergy and Asthma Research Institute -- a non-governmental organisation (ngo). According to the exercise, conducted jointly with the city police, the examined homeguards have moderate to serious pulmonary disorders.

Four medical and six technical experts are overseeing the study. A Das, chief of the medical team, admits that the "situation is quite alarming". Homeguards posted on busier and, therefore, more polluted road crossings are seen to be more vulnerable to the problem. "Those at the Sealdah traffic point are the most seriously affected because of their working environment," observes Das. Another noticeable feature of the study is that female homeguards appear to be more susceptible.