After reporting for two days on how the hanger hoods of Howrah bridge were being destroyed by gutkha spit (picture right), Metro caught up with some more offenders on Tuesday, who promised not to do it again

Lalit Mathur

Job: Porter at a Burrabazar shop

Act: Spat out gutkha on the hanger hood ever so casually while taking a break from lugging a huge sack

Confession: “The stains show that everyone spits here. But now that I know it’s dangerous, it won’t happen again.”

Lakhindar

Job: Porter at Phool Bazar in Burrabazar

Act: Walked down briskly from the Howrah side and spat on the hanger with a practised tongue

Confession: “I had no idea that the bridge was weakening because of our spitting. I will keep this in mind.”

Bablu Das

Job: Flower seller. Shuttles between Salt Lake and Howrah daily

Act: Spat gutkha on more than one hanger hood as he walked the length of the bridge

Confession: “I know it’s not right to spit on the road. I’ll not do it again.”

Manoj Sahu

Job: Supplier based in Tikiapara

Act: Was walking his bicycle up the slope towards Howrah when he let loose his venom

Confession: “This is such a beautiful bridge, who would want to damage it? I’ll not spit here again.”

Bhaskar Barik

Job: Works in a private firm in Kalighat

Act: Stopped in front of a hanger and spat out gutkha confidently

Confession: “I don’t usually spit. I spat just this once by mistake. Not only on bridges, people shouldn’t spit anywhere.”

Text: Rith Basu; Pix: Bishwarup Dutta