6 Animals That Make the Best Therapy Companions (And Why)

Introduction 

1. Dogs

2. Cats

3. Horses

4. Rabbits

5. Birds

6. Guinea Pigs 

Therapy animals offer emotional support, comfort, and companionship to those in need. These six animals are said to be excellent therapy companions for the following reasons.


Mumbai police Tuesday (Dec 10) told a court that it was probing whether the tragic Kurla bus accident was carried out “deliberately” by the driver, using the vehicle as a “weapon”. &nbsp;The crash, which took place on SG Barve Road, left at least seven people dead and more than 40 people injured.

Some videos of the crash have emerged on social media, which show the bus ramming into several vehicles and crushing some pedestrians. At least five autorickshaws, 10 motorcycles, and approximately 10 pedestrians were hit by the fast-moving bus.

Mumbai police suspect that the driver of the bus, 50-year-old Sanjay More, might have staged an attack using the bus. A magistrate court has now granted police More’s custody until December 21. Sanjay More earlier blamed the accident on brake failure but some eyewitnesses presented conflicting accounts. News agency IANS quoted an eyewitness as saying that Sanjay looked elated and was ‘laughing and enjoying his death drive.’

It has also been revealed that More had no experience of driving electric vehicles and had undergone a training of just 10 days. Mumbai police told the court that it was also necessary to investigate whether the driver was under the influence of narcotics at the time of the crash.

Earlier, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) of the area concluded that the accident was caused due to “human error”.

Watch:&nbsp;Six Dead In Mumbai Bus Crash, Detained Driver Blames Brake Failure

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“If a driver doesn't have experience driving an automatic transmission bus, he doesn't get proper judgment of acceleration and braking initially. Hence, it seems human error may have caused the accident,” Bharat Jadhav, vehicle inspector, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
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Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has also opened a probe into the accident and it is ascertaining whether the accident was caused due to carelessness.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mumbai police Tuesday (Dec 10) told a court that it was probing whether the tragic Kurla bus accident was carried out “deliberately” by the driver, using the vehicle as a “weapon”.

Mumbai police Tuesday (Dec 10) told a court that it was probing whether the tragic Kurla bus accident was carried out “deliberately” by the driver, using the vehicle as a “weapon”. The crash, which took place on SG Barve Road, left at least seven people dead and more than 40 people injured. Some videos of the crash have emerged on social media, which show the bus ramming into several vehicles and crushing some pedestrians. At least five autorickshaws, 10 motorcycles, and approximately 10 pedestrians were hit by the fast-moving bus. Mumbai police suspect that the driver of the bus, 50-year-old Sanjay More, might have staged an attack using the bus. A magistrate court has now granted police More’s custody until December 21. Sanjay More earlier blamed the accident on brake failure but some eyewitnesses presented conflicting accounts. News agency IANS quoted an eyewitness as saying that Sanjay looked elated and was ‘laughing and enjoying his death drive.’ It has also been revealed that More had no experience of driving electric vehicles and had undergone a training of just 10 days. Mumbai police told the court that it was also necessary to investigate whether the driver was under the influence of narcotics at the time of the crash. Earlier, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) of the area concluded that the accident was caused due to “human error”. Watch: Six Dead In Mumbai Bus Crash, Detained Driver Blames Brake Failure × “If a driver doesn't have experience driving an automatic transmission bus, he doesn't get proper judgment of acceleration and braking initially. Hence, it seems human error may have caused the accident,” Bharat Jadhav, vehicle inspector, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has also opened a probe into the accident and it is ascertaining whether the accident was caused due to carelessness. (With inputs from agencies)

Mumbai bus crash: Police probing whether driver ‘deliberately’ used bus as ‘weapon’

In Pics: Protest photos that will leave you speechless

Panettone is the Italian national Christmas cake, and it is notoriously tricky to perfect. So when the version from Pasticceria Giotto was named one of the 10 best in Italy, it was a real honor. But the most striking difference between the panettone at Giotto and the nine others on the list is that Giotto’s is made in a prison.

Inside the Due Palazzi prison on the outskirts of Padua, in northeastern Italy, a crew of inmates in white coats is supervised by four professional pastry chefs. Six days a week, they start baking at 4 a.m., beginning with the brioche that will be served by local pastry shops and hotels. Giotto also produces cookies, pies, nougat, chocolate and ice cream, but panettone is the specialty.

Giovanni, an inmate who was identified only by his first name in accordance with prison guidelines, has been working in the bakery for the last five years of his 23-year sentence. (Officials will not disclose the prisoners’ crimes.)

“Before I was in prison, I had never tasted panettone,” he said, “but I really like it, and every Christmas I get five or six and send them to my family in Sicily.”

The word panettone derives from panetto, a small loaf cake. The suffix, -one, changes the meaning to “large cake.” Similar recipes date back to the Roman Empire, when honey was used to sweeten a type of leavened dough. The cake is mentioned in a recipe book written in the 1500s by Bartolomeo Scappi, a personal chef to popes and kings during the time of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V; it was first referred to as pan de ton (“luxury bread”) by 18th-century scholar Pietro Verri in one of his writings.

A well-baked panettone is a point of pride for Italian pasticcerie, and every year Italians consume about 9 1/2 million of the cakes, mostly around the holidays.

Baking them is a meticulous process that involves multiple kneadings and leavenings over the course of 72 hours. After baking for an hour, the cakes are taken out of the oven and allowed to cool while hanging upside down, to keep their characteristic domed tops from falling. In all, the Giotto team will bake more than 80,000 panettone this holiday season.

The baking program, which began in 2005, is run by Work Crossing Cooperative, a nonprofit group that operates prison work programs in the region. In early December, the cooperative even opened a Pasticceria Giotto storefront in Padua.

The Italian prison system is overcrowded, and the national recidivism average is 70%, according to the Ministry of Justice, with a majority of inmates returning for sentences longer than their first. That rate drops to 5%, however, for inmates who work while incarcerated.

Matteo Marchetto, president of Work Crossing Cooperative, said the Italian constitution explicitly mentions education as part of the purpose of a prison sentence.

“The sentence must be fully expiated, but at the same time there must be a path to recovery,” Marchetto said. “Otherwise, these years are wasted public resources.”

Before being accepted into the baking program, inmates must work with a psychologist for six months. Once accepted, they do a six-month internship before becoming full employees. For the next six months, they make 650 euros (around $735) a month, then graduate to 800 euros, and finally to 1,000 euros. Throughout the process the inmates continue to work with a psychologist.

Matteo Concolato, a pastry chef who helps supervise the inmates as they bake, said he had witnessed the program’s benefits firsthand.

“One thing that gives a lot of satisfaction is to see a guy who may never have worked before and comes from years in prison who gradually becomes passionate, acquires a sense of responsibility for what he is doing, begins to trust himself and others again,” he said.

Panettone is the Italian national Christmas cake, and it is notoriously tricky to perfect. So when the version from Pasticceria Giotto was named one of the 10 best in Italy, it was a real honor.

Panettone is the Italian national Christmas cake, and it is notoriously tricky to perfect. So when the version from Pasticceria Giotto was named one of the 10 best in Italy, it was a real honor. But the most striking difference between the panettone at Giotto and the nine others on the list is that Giotto’s is made in a prison. Inside the Due Palazzi prison on the outskirts of Padua, in northeastern Italy, a crew of inmates in white coats is supervised by four professional pastry chefs. Six days a week, they start baking at 4 a.m., beginning with the brioche that will be served by local pastry shops and hotels. Giotto also produces cookies, pies, nougat, chocolate and ice cream, but panettone is the specialty. Giovanni, an inmate who was identified only by his first name in accordance with prison guidelines, has been working in the bakery for the last five years of his 23-year sentence. (Officials will not disclose the prisoners’ crimes.) “Before I was in prison, I had never tasted panettone,” he said, “but I really like it, and every Christmas I get five or six and send them to my family in Sicily.” The word panettone derives from panetto, a small loaf cake. The suffix, -one, changes the meaning to “large cake.” Similar recipes date back to the Roman Empire, when honey was used to sweeten a type of leavened dough. The cake is mentioned in a recipe book written in the 1500s by Bartolomeo Scappi, a personal chef to popes and kings during the time of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V; it was first referred to as pan de ton (“luxury bread”) by 18th-century scholar Pietro Verri in one of his writings. A well-baked panettone is a point of pride for Italian pasticcerie, and every year Italians consume about 9 1/2 million of the cakes, mostly around the holidays. Baking them is a meticulous process that involves multiple kneadings and leavenings over the course of 72 hours. After baking for an hour, the cakes are taken out of the oven and allowed to cool while hanging upside down, to keep their characteristic domed tops from falling. In all, the Giotto team will bake more than 80,000 panettone this holiday season. The baking program, which began in 2005, is run by Work Crossing Cooperative, a nonprofit group that operates prison work programs in the region. In early December, the cooperative even opened a Pasticceria Giotto storefront in Padua. The Italian prison system is overcrowded, and the national recidivism average is 70%, according to the Ministry of Justice, with a majority of inmates returning for sentences longer than their first. That rate drops to 5%, however, for inmates who work while incarcerated. Matteo Marchetto, president of Work Crossing Cooperative, said the Italian constitution explicitly mentions education as part of the purpose of a prison sentence. “The sentence must be fully expiated, but at the same time there must be a path to recovery,” Marchetto said. “Otherwise, these years are wasted public resources.” Before being accepted into the baking program, inmates must work with a psychologist for six months. Once accepted, they do a six-month internship before becoming full employees. For the next six months, they make 650 euros (around $735) a month, then graduate to 800 euros, and finally to 1,000 euros. Throughout the process the inmates continue to work with a psychologist. Matteo Concolato, a pastry chef who helps supervise the inmates as they bake, said he had witnessed the program’s benefits firsthand. “One thing that gives a lot of satisfaction is to see a guy who may never have worked before and comes from years in prison who gradually becomes passionate, acquires a sense of responsibility for what he is doing, begins to trust himself and others again,” he said.

A Panettone baked in prison, and it’s one of Italy’s best

The "drinking culture" in county teams was partly responsible for Asian and Black players not getting enough opportunities in English cricket, former West Indies international Tino Best has said.

Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq's testimony to a British parliamentary committee on Tuesday has thrown a spotlight on racism in the sport in England, as well as its drinking culture.

Rafiq, a Muslim, recalled how he was pinned down at his local cricket club when he was 15 and had red wine poured down his throat by an unnamed player who played for Yorkshire and Hampshire.

The scandal has shaken English sport, cost Yorkshire sponsors and the right to host England internationals, seen the club's top brass quit, and embroiled some of the biggest names in English cricket.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/english-cricket-rife-with-racism-my-life-made-hell-says-azeem-rafiq-429820">English cricket rife with racism, my life made 'hell', says Azeem Rafiq</a>

Best, who played with Rafiq at Yorkshire, told BBC Sport. That is a big problem. People shouldn't be pressured to go into the clubhouse and drink eight or nine pints to be a part of the team."

"If you're not a part of the drinking culture, if you're not a part of the boys'&nbsp;club, you're not going to get opportunities after cricket," he said.

"That is something that is hampering people of colour and Asian ethnicity."

Best, 40, said he recalled how players with Asian heritage such as Rafiq, Adil Rashid and Ajmal Shahzad were treated at Yorkshire in 2010 and how they feared reprisals if they went public with their complaints.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/adil-rashid-confirms-michael-vaughan-questioning-number-of-players-of-asian-heritage-at-yorkshire-429567">Adil Rashid confirms Michael Vaughan questioning number of players of Asian heritage at Yorkshire</a>

"Me being a person of colour as well, I would always be with them as well."

He said they would complain every day about what they went through.

"I would be like 'wow'," he said. "It was just astounding to hear what those guys were saying back in 2010. And there was no platform for them to really open up, because guys would have probably lost contracts, probably kicked out of the club. Guys were fearful of that."

The "drinking culture" in county teams was partly responsible for Asian and Black players not getting enough opportunities in English cricket, former West Indies international Tino Best has said.

The "drinking culture" in county teams was partly responsible for Asian and Black players not getting enough opportunities in English cricket, former West Indies international Tino Best has said. Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq's testimony to a British parliamentary committee on Tuesday has thrown a spotlight on racism in the sport in England, as well as its drinking culture. Rafiq, a Muslim, recalled how he was pinned down at his local cricket club when he was 15 and had red wine poured down his throat by an unnamed player who played for Yorkshire and Hampshire. The scandal has shaken English sport, cost Yorkshire sponsors and the right to host England internationals, seen the club's top brass quit, and embroiled some of the biggest names in English cricket. ALSO READ: English cricket rife with racism, my life made 'hell', says Azeem Rafiq Best, who played with Rafiq at Yorkshire, told BBC Sport. That is a big problem. People shouldn't be pressured to go into the clubhouse and drink eight or nine pints to be a part of the team." "If you're not a part of the drinking culture, if you're not a part of the boys' club, you're not going to get opportunities after cricket," he said. "That is something that is hampering people of colour and Asian ethnicity." Best, 40, said he recalled how players with Asian heritage such as Rafiq, Adil Rashid and Ajmal Shahzad were treated at Yorkshire in 2010 and how they feared reprisals if they went public with their complaints. ALSO READ: Adil Rashid confirms Michael Vaughan questioning number of players of Asian heritage at Yorkshire "Me being a person of colour as well, I would always be with them as well." He said they would complain every day about what they went through. "I would be like 'wow'," he said. "It was just astounding to hear what those guys were saying back in 2010. And there was no platform for them to really open up, because guys would have probably lost contracts, probably kicked out of the club. Guys were fearful of that."

English 'drinking culture' affected Asian and Black players, says Tino Best

Oslo's world best library 'Deichman Bjørvika', now open to public

Commuters in Mumbai continued to suffer as the BEST bus strike entered the ninth day on Wednesday with the workers' union rejecting the management's '10-step increment' proposal to end the stalemate.

All eyes will now be on the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/best-strike-bombay-high-court-seeks-response-from-all-parties-190544">Bombay High Court </a>which is hearing the case related to the strike, the longest such protest in the history of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST).

Over 32,000 BEST employees have been on strike since January 8 over their various demands, including pay hike, revision of pay grade for junior level employees, and merger of loss-making BEST's budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The HC had on Tuesday directed the BEST workers' union to take a final decision on the withdrawal of its ongoing strike and inform the court on Wednesday.

The direction came after the BEST told the court that it was willing to implement the redressal measure suggested by the state government's high-powered committee on granting an interim pay hike to its employees.

The high-powered committee, headed by chief secretary, has recommended, among other things, that subject to the strike being called off, as an interim measure, workers be granted a '10-step increase' in salary for about 15,000 employees in a time-bound manner.

However, BEST workers' union leader Shashank Rao rejected the proposal on Tuesday.

The union was adamant on its demand of merging BEST's budget with that of its parent body BMC.

A senior BEST official said the government was seriously considering the demand.

"The high-powered committee is giving a serious thought to merge both the budgets. A decision on this is likely to come soon," an official said.

Meanwhile, commuters continued to face hardships due to the strike, even as the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) deployed its buses to minimise their woes.

A BEST driver apologised to commuters for the inconvenience, but also appealed them to understand the problems faced by the bus employees.

"We have been financially distressed since the last few years. We had no option but to resort to this (strike). But we are hopeful that this will end," he said. 
Some commuters also took to social media to express their anger.

"Palpable anger among daily bus commuters against BEST union &amp; their ongoing strike. Common sentiment - quit the job if you are not happy with the wages/terms (coming from daily wage earners and lowmiddle-classass commuters). Overheard inside NMMT bus which have stepped up service," a harried commuter wrote on Twitter.

The state government had last week invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the striking employees.

But, it has so far not taken any stringent action except for sending them notices to evict the houses provided to them by the undertaking.

The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200 buses which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai. 
It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day.

Commuters in Mumbai continued to suffer as the BEST bus strike entered the ninth day on Wednesday with the workers' union rejecting the management's '10-step increment' proposal to end the stalemate.

Commuters in Mumbai continued to suffer as the BEST bus strike entered the ninth day on Wednesday with the workers' union rejecting the management's '10-step increment' proposal to end the stalemate. All eyes will now be on the Bombay High Court which is hearing the case related to the strike, the longest such protest in the history of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST). Over 32,000 BEST employees have been on strike since January 8 over their various demands, including pay hike, revision of pay grade for junior level employees, and merger of loss-making BEST's budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The HC had on Tuesday directed the BEST workers' union to take a final decision on the withdrawal of its ongoing strike and inform the court on Wednesday. The direction came after the BEST told the court that it was willing to implement the redressal measure suggested by the state government's high-powered committee on granting an interim pay hike to its employees. The high-powered committee, headed by chief secretary, has recommended, among other things, that subject to the strike being called off, as an interim measure, workers be granted a '10-step increase' in salary for about 15,000 employees in a time-bound manner. However, BEST workers' union leader Shashank Rao rejected the proposal on Tuesday. The union was adamant on its demand of merging BEST's budget with that of its parent body BMC. A senior BEST official said the government was seriously considering the demand. "The high-powered committee is giving a serious thought to merge both the budgets. A decision on this is likely to come soon," an official said. Meanwhile, commuters continued to face hardships due to the strike, even as the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) deployed its buses to minimise their woes. A BEST driver apologised to commuters for the inconvenience, but also appealed them to understand the problems faced by the bus employees. "We have been financially distressed since the last few years. We had no option but to resort to this (strike). But we are hopeful that this will end," he said. Some commuters also took to social media to express their anger. "Palpable anger among daily bus commuters against BEST union & their ongoing strike. Common sentiment - quit the job if you are not happy with the wages/terms (coming from daily wage earners and lowmiddle-classass commuters). Overheard inside NMMT bus which have stepped up service," a harried commuter wrote on Twitter. The state government had last week invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the striking employees. But, it has so far not taken any stringent action except for sending them notices to evict the houses provided to them by the undertaking. The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200 buses which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai. It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day.

No end to commuter woes as BEST bus strike in Mumbai continues

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought a&nbsp;response from all the parties in connection with the ongoing indefinite strike by BEST employees here.

The high court asked all the parties to decide about the ongoing BEST strike till 11 am on Wednesday and inform the court about their decision.

The lawyer representing BEST also said that BEST is ready to give 10 step increments to employees which will be implemented from February 2019.

Mumbai's civic transport, comprising a workforce of 32,000 people, has been demanding the merger of BEST budget with 'A'&nbsp;budget of BMC.

They are also seeking resolution of the issue of employee service residences and recruitment. When the talks with the authorities failed, the employees resorted to the strike.

In the wake of the ongoing strike, locals in Mumbai are forced to bear the brunt of higher fares as they now have to opt for a private taxi or an auto-rickshaw to commute.

Moreover, rides to busy areas such as Churchgate, Lower Parel, BKC, Andheri, and Goregaon are costing more than the rest of the places.

BEST, the lifeline of Mumbai has a fleet size of as many as 3,200 buses. It the second largest transport system in the metropolis after local trains which ferry more than 70 lakh commuters on a daily basis.

 
&nbsp;

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought a response from all the parties in connection with the ongoing indefinite strike by BEST employees here. The high court asked all the parties to decide about the ongoing BEST strike till 11 am on Wednesday and inform the court about their decision.

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought a response from all the parties in connection with the ongoing indefinite strike by BEST employees here. The high court asked all the parties to decide about the ongoing BEST strike till 11 am on Wednesday and inform the court about their decision. The lawyer representing BEST also said that BEST is ready to give 10 step increments to employees which will be implemented from February 2019. Mumbai's civic transport, comprising a workforce of 32,000 people, has been demanding the merger of BEST budget with 'A' budget of BMC. They are also seeking resolution of the issue of employee service residences and recruitment. When the talks with the authorities failed, the employees resorted to the strike. In the wake of the ongoing strike, locals in Mumbai are forced to bear the brunt of higher fares as they now have to opt for a private taxi or an auto-rickshaw to commute. Moreover, rides to busy areas such as Churchgate, Lower Parel, BKC, Andheri, and Goregaon are costing more than the rest of the places. BEST, the lifeline of Mumbai has a fleet size of as many as 3,200 buses. It the second largest transport system in the metropolis after local trains which ferry more than 70 lakh commuters on a daily basis.

BEST strike: Bombay High Court seeks response from all parties

The indefinite strike by employees of the city's civic transport undertaking Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will continue Friday, as talks between union leaders and officials remained inconclusive.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose party controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), met the BEST union leaders in the presence of Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta and the BEST commissioner Surendra Kumar Bagde at the Mayor's bungalow Thursday.

The negotiations went on for nearly seven hours but failed to break the deadlock.

"The officials have refused to relent on our demands to merge the budget of BEST with that of the BMC. Therefore, the strike will continue. They did not agree to even give us a written assurance about our other demands," BEST Workers Union president Shashank Rao told reporters after the meeting.

He added that while Thackeray tried to find a middle ground, he did not succeed.

The Union has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded a written assurance on its demands, Rao said.

"This strike was called by workers. In the absence of definite assurance, what will we tell them?" said Rao.

Nearly 32,000 BEST employees are on indefinite strike since Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries and merger of budgets. While the BMC is the richest municipal body in the country, BEST is a loss-making undertaking.

Not a single BEST bus plied on Mumbai roads since morning, an official said.

Commuters complained that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers were charging much more than normal rates.

A PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court Thursday seeking a direction to BEST workers to end the strike. The court will be hearing it Friday.

The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200 buses, which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai. It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after the local trains.&nbsp;

The indefinite strike by employees of the city's civic transport undertaking Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will continue Friday, as talks between union leaders and officials remained inconclusive.

The indefinite strike by employees of the city's civic transport undertaking Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will continue Friday, as talks between union leaders and officials remained inconclusive. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose party controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), met the BEST union leaders in the presence of Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta and the BEST commissioner Surendra Kumar Bagde at the Mayor's bungalow Thursday. The negotiations went on for nearly seven hours but failed to break the deadlock. "The officials have refused to relent on our demands to merge the budget of BEST with that of the BMC. Therefore, the strike will continue. They did not agree to even give us a written assurance about our other demands," BEST Workers Union president Shashank Rao told reporters after the meeting. He added that while Thackeray tried to find a middle ground, he did not succeed. The Union has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded a written assurance on its demands, Rao said. "This strike was called by workers. In the absence of definite assurance, what will we tell them?" said Rao. Nearly 32,000 BEST employees are on indefinite strike since Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries and merger of budgets. While the BMC is the richest municipal body in the country, BEST is a loss-making undertaking. Not a single BEST bus plied on Mumbai roads since morning, an official said. Commuters complained that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers were charging much more than normal rates. A PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court Thursday seeking a direction to BEST workers to end the strike. The court will be hearing it Friday. The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200 buses, which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai. It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after the local trains.

Mumbai: BEST indefinite strike to continues

Over 33,000 employees of Mumbai's civic transport undertaking BEST went on an indefinite strike since midnight over their demands, including higher wages, paralysing bus services and causing inconvenience to nearly 25-lakh daily commuters.

Responding to a call given by their union leaders, the agitating staff did not take out any bus from all 27 depots on Tuesday, even as the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) administration and an industrial court declared the strike as "illegal".

The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200-red-colour buses which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai. It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80-lakh passengers every day.

The employees are demanding higher salaries, merging budget of the loss-making BEST with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), deliberations on new wage agreement, resuming appointments on compassionate grounds and bonus equivalent to that of the civic body employees.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a>: BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport) have begun an indefinite strike from Monday midnight, over the demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with principal budget of the BMC, employee service residences and recruitment among others.. <a href="https://t.co/DgPprAHGkM">pic.twitter.com/DgPprAHGkM</a>
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With its employees having gone on strike, the cash-strapped BEST is likely to face a loss of Rs 3 crore per day, a source said.

Shashank Rao, leader of the BEST Workers' Union, which has called the strike, alleged that the transport body's administration showed a lackadaisical approach in resolving the stalemate and that the employees had no option but to go on strike.

An industrial court had on Monday declared the strike as illegal and restrained the labour unions and BEST staffers from going ahead with their protest. But, Rao said they had not received the copy of the court order till they went on strike.

Meanwhile, some commuters opposed the strike, saying it was always the passengers who bore the brunt of the feud between the BEST administration and its employees.

"Why torture innocent passengers? What wrong have we done to BEST employees and their management?" asked Anita Nayak, a Ghatkopar resident who commutes by bus everyday to go for work in suburban Mulund.

The Amchi Mumbai-Amchi Best (AMAB), an independent forum of public transport enthusiasts, took a neutral stand and said the matter should be resolved as soon as possible.

"No doubt commuters are going to face hardships, but it is also true that the BEST workers have also been not paid enough. No harm if BEST is merged with the BMC," a member of the forum said.

Meanwhile, the BEST management has issued internal circulars, warning employees of stringent action if they participated in the strike. It has also threatened to invoke the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against them.&nbsp;

Over 33,000 employees of Mumbai's civic transport undertaking BEST went on an indefinite strike since midnight over their demands, including higher wages, paralysing bus services and causing inconvenience to nearly 25-lakh daily commuters.

Over 33,000 employees of Mumbai's civic transport undertaking BEST went on an indefinite strike since midnight over their demands, including higher wages, paralysing bus services and causing inconvenience to nearly 25-lakh daily commuters. Responding to a call given by their union leaders, the agitating staff did not take out any bus from all 27 depots on Tuesday, even as the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) administration and an industrial court declared the strike as "illegal". The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200-red-colour buses which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai. It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80-lakh passengers every day. The employees are demanding higher salaries, merging budget of the loss-making BEST with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), deliberations on new wage agreement, resuming appointments on compassionate grounds and bonus equivalent to that of the civic body employees. #Mumbai: BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport) have begun an indefinite strike from Monday midnight, over the demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with principal budget of the BMC, employee service residences and recruitment among others.. pic.twitter.com/DgPprAHGkM — ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019 × With its employees having gone on strike, the cash-strapped BEST is likely to face a loss of Rs 3 crore per day, a source said. Shashank Rao, leader of the BEST Workers' Union, which has called the strike, alleged that the transport body's administration showed a lackadaisical approach in resolving the stalemate and that the employees had no option but to go on strike. An industrial court had on Monday declared the strike as illegal and restrained the labour unions and BEST staffers from going ahead with their protest. But, Rao said they had not received the copy of the court order till they went on strike. Meanwhile, some commuters opposed the strike, saying it was always the passengers who bore the brunt of the feud between the BEST administration and its employees. "Why torture innocent passengers? What wrong have we done to BEST employees and their management?" asked Anita Nayak, a Ghatkopar resident who commutes by bus everyday to go for work in suburban Mulund. The Amchi Mumbai-Amchi Best (AMAB), an independent forum of public transport enthusiasts, took a neutral stand and said the matter should be resolved as soon as possible. "No doubt commuters are going to face hardships, but it is also true that the BEST workers have also been not paid enough. No harm if BEST is merged with the BMC," a member of the forum said. Meanwhile, the BEST management has issued internal circulars, warning employees of stringent action if they participated in the strike. It has also threatened to invoke the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against them.

Mumbai: Buses go off roads as BEST staffers go on strike

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) employees had decided to strike work on Thursday to protest the BEST&#39;s decision to hire 450 private buses.&nbsp;

According to fresh reports, the strike has now been called off&nbsp;as the&nbsp;matter remains&nbsp;pending in the industrial court. Court&#39;s final word is expected on March 5.

Eight other unions along with the BEST Workers Union were supposed&nbsp;to observe the strike tomorrow. BEST workers challenged the proposal in court which was expecting a hearing on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena-affiliate BEST Kamgar Sena had already refused to participate in the strike. The Congress has also refused to extend its support.

Close to 32,000 BEST employees were expected to join tomorrow&#39;s strike. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation&#39;s (BMC) Chairman Ajoy Mehta is been looked up to for an intervention and to come up with a solution to pacify the disgruntled union.&nbsp;

Shiv Sena-affiliate BEST Kamgar Sena had refused to participate in the strike

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) employees had decided to strike work on Thursday to protest the BEST's decision to hire 450 private buses. According to fresh reports, the strike has now been called off as the matter remains pending in the industrial court. Court's final word is expected on March 5. Eight other unions along with the BEST Workers Union were supposed to observe the strike tomorrow. BEST workers challenged the proposal in court which was expecting a hearing on Thursday. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena-affiliate BEST Kamgar Sena had already refused to participate in the strike. The Congress has also refused to extend its support. Close to 32,000 BEST employees were expected to join tomorrow's strike. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Chairman Ajoy Mehta is been looked up to for an intervention and to come up with a solution to pacify the disgruntled union.

Mumbai: BEST bus workers cancel Thursday strike

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