Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Apr 24: A suicide attempt by a driver amid the ongoing strike by Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) employees has prompted the state government to signal willingness for talks, while urging workers to exercise restraint.
The driver, identified as K Shankar Goud from Narsampet in Warangal district, allegedly set himself on fire in front of the Narsampet bus stand on Thursday. He was reportedly distressed over the government’s refusal to merge the RTC with the state government, among several pending demands raised by employees.
Goud sustained severe burn injuries and was shifted to MGM Hospital in Warangal, where doctors said his condition remains critical.
The incident triggered protests at the Narsampet depot, with agitating workers raising slogans against the RTC management and the government. Police were deployed to control the situation as tensions escalated.
The strike, led by the TGSRTC Joint Action Committee, has seen employees boycotting duties and keeping thousands of buses off the roads. In Hyderabad, services were disrupted at major hubs such as Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station and Jubilee Bus Station.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s government, in a cabinet meeting held on Thursday, discussed the crisis and appealed to workers to avoid extreme steps.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said employees have the right to protest but urged them not to take their own lives. Minister D. Sridhar Babu emphasised that the government is actively trying to address their concerns and called for restraint.
Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha reiterated the government’s commitment to resolving the issues through dialogue and invited employees to the negotiating table.
RTC workers have been demanding fulfilment of election promises, including pay revision, job security, and clearance of salary dues.
Despite the strike, authorities have managed to operate around 1,000 buses, including electric vehicles, through temporary arrangements. Normally, around 3,000 buses run daily in Hyderabad, serving nearly 26 lakh passengers, while the corporation operates over 9,300 buses across the state.
Efforts are underway to restore normalcy as the government seeks a resolution through discussions.