Hyderabad, April 24: The strike by employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) entered its third day, causing significant disruptions for the public. Approximately 40,000 employees have stayed away from work, leaving most buses parked at depots across the state.
Meanwhile, hopes for negotiations between the government and striking employees remain. A subcommittee led by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka is set to engage with employee leaders.
However, the atmosphere has become more tense following a tragic incident. RTC driver Shankar Gaud, 55, succumbed to his injuries after self-immolating during a protest in Warangal district. He had suffered burns covering 80% of his body and died at Apollo DRDO Hospital in Hyderabad on Friday morning.
Following his death, tensions escalated in the Muthupet area as employees attempted to transport his body to the Narsampet depot, where he had set himself on fire. Police intervened, leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement.
In support of the employees, leaders from the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have also stepped in. Police detained BRS leader and former MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy during the unrest.
In response to the situation, security has been heightened at RTC depots across the state to prevent further incidents like that in Narsampet. On Thursday, several other employees attempted self-immolation, but they were stopped in time by their colleagues and police.
Following Shankar Gaud’s death, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the employees convened an emergency meeting to discuss their next steps.
Public transportation continues to be severely impacted on the third day of the strike. Government and private employees, students, and daily wage workers are facing the brunt of the disruptions.
Despite the strike, the TGSRCT claims that limited services are being operated through private and electric buses. Some buses are running from Hyderabad’s Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Jubilee Bus Station (JBS), with restricted services available to neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
The strike has also led to overcrowding on metro and MMTS trains. In a cabinet meeting held on Thursday evening, the government urged employees to end the strike and maintain restraint, assuring them that all issues would be addressed through dialogue.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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