Hundreds of commuters were hit as huge numbers of autorickshaws and taxis went off the roads in Ernakulam district as part of the State-wide indefinite strike demanding a hike in minimum fare that began on Thursday.
Representatives of the CITU, AITUC, INTUC, BMS, UTUC, HMS and STU claimed that the strike was total. They said the strike would be intensified in the coming days. A State-level co-ordination meeting to be held on Friday would chalk out the future course of the agitation, they said. Train passengers especially those who had come from other States had a harrowing time. Students were also inconvenienced as autorickshaws that ferried them to schools went off the roads. Autorickshaw and taxi drivers who ventured out despite the strike were told to cancel services.