Roadways staff strike in Sirsa after assault on conductor in Hisar

Following an alleged assault on a Haryana Roadways bus conductor in Hisar, roadways employees in Sirsa observed a complete strike on Thursday, bringing bus services to a halt. Protesting under the banner of the Roadways Union, employees held a sit-in at the Sirsa bus depot, demanding immediate arrest of those involved in the attack.

With no government buses operating, passengers across Sirsa district especially women, elderly and children were left stranded in the heat. Many were forced to travel in overcrowded private vehicles or spend hours waiting for alternatives. Long route travellers were hit hardest as private operators typically run fewer buses on those routes.

In response to the strike, the roadways administration deployed a limited number of “kilometre scheme” buses operated by contractual drivers and conductors from Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam. Rajasthan and Punjab state buses continued to ply, but were not allowed inside the Sirsa bus depot. These buses instead picked and dropped passengers outside the bus stand premises.

With public transport stalled, private bus operators and auto-rickshaw drivers took advantage of the situation. Some owners of private buses started operating their vehicles on selected routes to maximise profit. This led to heavy congestion outside the Sirsa depot, causing minor traffic jams throughout the day.

Inside depot, striking employees raised slogans and vowed to continue their protest until justice was served. Union leaders made it clear that their agitation would not stop unless the culprits involved in the Hisar assault were arrested.