Locomotive pilots with the Indian Railways have written to Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu, urging him to take urgent steps to improve their working conditions and, among others, provide the crew with AC cabins and bottled drinking water en route. A copy of the letter has also been marked to the National Human Rights Commission. "The unjust condition of the loco cab badly affects the thermal comfort and the overall performance of loco pilots, as the cab and the crew are directly exposed to sunlight resulting in high radiant heat gain", says the letter, adding that the wider look-out glasses and too much window area exposes the cab to direct sunlight and the "lack of proper solar blinds or curtains make things worse". "The fans provided are a mockery. It is ridiculously small, delivers insufficient air, air flow focused only on limited parts of the body…. It conducts hot air and adds to the temperature," says the letter, adding that "poor" working conditions also go against the declared "National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace". According to a report, the Railways have about 55,000 loco pilots, of which 20,000 drive superfast trains. The Rail Budget 2013-14 had talked about providing water closets in locos, but nothing has materialised.