Bus employees continue strike in Andhra, Telangana

Public road transport services in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana remained paralysed for a third day on Friday as employees of the state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corp (APSRTC) continued their strike demanding pay revision.

The APSRTC management is running partial services with the help of constract drivers and conductors but this led to clashes and tensions at few places in both the states.

Fifteen women conductors were injured in a clash between police and striking employees at Hanamkonda bus depot in Warangal district of Telangana. The clash broke out after employees removed a police barricade erected to prevent the employees from operating bus services.

Tension prevailed in Kuttagudem town of Khammam district when an employee attempted self immolation. Police arrested the agitating employees.

Over one lakh employees of APSRTc are on strike demanding a 43 percent hike in wages.

The management, which has offered a 27 percent hike, has threatened to take strong action against striking employees.

The strike on Friday hit hard the students appearing in EAMCET exam in Andhra Pradesh.

Most candidates had a tough time reaching their exam centres for the entrance test for admissions into medical and engineering colleges.

More than 2.5 lakh students, including 22,700 in Hyderabad, are appearing for the exam.

With the employees refusing to end the strike despite appeals by the Andhra Pradesh government, the authorities made alternate arrangements for the students.

In some place, vehicles were operated by police and revenue departments to help the students.