Rain-hit Mussoorie rickshaw drivers struggle for survival

MUSSOORIE: While heavy rain severely affected Uttarakhand, it hit rickshaw operators of Mussoorie particularly hard.

Nearly 121 operators, who rely on ferrying tourists along the bustling Mall Road, have endured over two months of down time, and now they're appealing for government assistance to support their families.

"Our clientele is tourists, but ever since tourism has dipped, we're not able to feed our families and are finding it difficult to survive," Mangal Singh Negi, a rickshaw operator, said.

"Earlier, we used to be busy the entire day, but since the past two months, we barely get one or two fares as there are no tourists. Many of us are trying to find work as daily wage labourers," another rickshaw operator, Shankar Singh, added.

These operators ply between Jhoolaghar and Gandhi Chowk on Mall Road, on Camel's Back Road, and between Gandhi Chowk and Municipal Garden. Anmol Jain