The dawn-to-dusk strike by the employees union of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) in the district on Thursday affected life in the district.
The strike was in protest against the reported attack on KSRTC driver C. Rajan, 53, on Wednesday, reportedly by a mini-lorry driver at Killi, near Kattakada around 9.40 a.m. (Rajan died later in the day).
With 2,000 schedules, operated from 22 depots, not being operated from 6 a.m., commuters, especially officer-goers and students had to depend on other modes of transport to reach destinations. Those who arrived at Thiruvananthapuram Central from various places by trains in the morning got stranded for hours. The only solace was the 105-odd private buses that operated in the city limits. Long-distance buses that came via the National Highway terminated services at the Attingal depot. Those coming via M.C. Road stopped at Kilimanoor and those from the Kanyakumari side at Kaliyakkavila.
The headquarters of the KSRTC at Transport Bhavan, East Fort, wore a deserted look as employees did not attend work.
Places fully dependant on KSRTC, like the city, was badly affected. Private buses were overcrowded. Parallel services operated in full strength but were unable to meet the demand. There were complaints of at least a section of them fleecing the public. Autorickshaws that were operating in the rural and suburban areas were seen on the city roads from morning.
The services were restored by 4 p.m. after the body of the driver was cremated. The body was taken from the Medical College Hospital after A post-mortem examination to the Vikas Bhavan depot and later to the City depot for colleagues to pay last respects. Top officials of the KSRTC and leaders of the KSRTC employees union and trade unions placed wreaths.
The KSRTC employees had sought action against the guilty. They had also sought adequate security and safe working environment in view of ‘increased threat from those operating parallel services.' C. Rajan was attached to the Vellarada depot.
