September 4: Taxi Drivers are required to keep vehicle fire extinguisher in their taxis for safety purpose. But taxi drivers in Phuentsholing are giving a second thought on keeping fire extinguishers in their taxis. The apprehension comes after a fire extinguisher in one of the taxis exploded yesterday.

Our reporter, Dechen Wangmo, says that the force of explosion caused cracks on the windshield. The lid of the fire extinguisher lie broken with pieces strewn all over in the taxi. Fortunately there was no one inside when the blast occurred.

“I was at home having my lunch when my friends called me to inform about the incident.  Thank god, there were no passengers when the blast took place. It could have injured them. It’s worrying,” said B.N. Giri, the owner of the Taxi.

This is the second such blast in Phuentsholing. Taxi drivers say the first one happened a few days earlier. The first explosion did not alarm them. But when it happened again yesterday, it roused fears in their minds.

They suspect the blast could have been triggered by the extreme heat.

It is mandatory for all taxi drivers to keep fire extinguisher in their taxis to tackle blazes in the vehicles.  If they don’t, the RSTA charges them a fine of Nu. 750.

But after what happened yesterday and a few days back, taxi drivers have no doubt in breaking the rule. They said their taxis no longer have a place for these fire extinguishers.

Saying they do not want to put the lives of passengers and their own in danger, taxi drivers started discarding the fire extinguishers.