TGSRTC Strike Turns Tragic as Driver Dies on Day 2, Services Disrupted Across Telangana

The ongoing strike by employees of the Telangana Government State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) took a tragic turn on its second day, even as public transport across the state remained severely disrupted, leaving lakhs of commuters stranded.

In a shocking incident in Warangal district, a 50-year-old RTC driver, Shankar Goud , allegedly set himself ablaze during a protest in support of workers’ demands. According to police, he poured petrol and set himself on fire near the Narsampet bus stand , suffering severe burn injuries. He was initially shifted to the state-run MGM Hospital in Warangal and later referred to Hyderabad, but succumbed to his injuries while being transported. In a separate incident, another driver in Khammam reportedly attempted suicide by consuming pesticide and remains in critical condition. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) warned that such incidents reflect growing desperation among employees and signalled that the agitation could intensify further.

The indefinite strike, which entered its second day on Thursday, has brought bus services across Telangana to a near standstill. With only 25–30% of buses operational, the disruption has severely affected the nearly 65 lakh passengers who rely on TGSRTC services daily. Bus stations are witnessing chaotic scenes as commuters wait for hours or are forced to depend on expensive private transport.

Employees have been staging protests at multiple depots and key locations across the state, pressing for the resolution of their 32-point charter of demands . The most prominent among them is the demand to merge TGSRTC with the state government , along with long-pending pay revisions, job security, and financial benefits . Workers allege that despite repeated assurances, the government has failed to act decisively.

The impact of the strike has been particularly severe on students, patients, and rural commuters. Even welfare initiatives like the Mahalakshmi free bus travel scheme for women have become ineffective due to the shortage of buses. Meanwhile, private transport operators and auto drivers have reportedly hiked fares, further burdening the public.

Tensions have also escalated on the ground, with heavy police deployment reported at several depots. In some areas, buses are being operated using private personnel under tight security, drawing sharp criticism from unions who accuse the government of attempting to weaken the protest.

The strike has triggered strong political reactions. The opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has extended full support to the workers, accusing the government of failing to fulfil its promises. Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have also expressed solidarity. The government, however, maintains that it is willing to resolve 29 out of the 32 demands , stating that complex issues such as the merger require detailed financial and administrative evaluation.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar appealed to employees to resume duties, while TGSRTC Managing Director V. Nagi Reddy said a high-level committee would need at least four weeks to assess the financial implications of the demands. The JAC has rejected this proposal, demanding immediate and concrete assurances instead.

Amid rising tensions, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urged workers not to take extreme steps, emphasising that loss of life would not resolve the issue. He reiterated the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue and announced that fresh talks with unions would be held soon.

As the strike continues with no immediate resolution in sight, Telangana faces a deepening transport crisis. With public hardship mounting and emotions running high, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether negotiations can break the deadlock or if the situation escalates further.