Matheran's hand-pulled rickshaw business is on the verge of dying even as tourists gather in large numbers. Of the 94 rickshaws that used to ply prior to the lockdown, barely 25 are now functional, as traditional labourers who used to come from Yavatmal district, have refused to come back citing lockdown and fear of the pandemic.

"We have done it for almost two generations and cannot see the industry die like this. Pulling carts is a very laborious task on the hills here and there is not much money in it. We also fall ill regularly due to the dust and hard work. The new generation will not touch this profession," Ganpat Ranjane who has been pulling rickshaws for 29 years said.