Heat multiplies bus-strike pain in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana: A strike by contract employees of Punbus grounded more than 90 state-run buses in the district, stranding hundreds of commuters in scorching heat.

The disruption disproportionately impacted women, who widely utilise Punjab’s free transit policy for female passengers and chose to wait long hours rather than pay for private transport.

Bus union vice-president Sukhwinder Singh said the agitation targeted the govt’s “kilometre scheme” and demanded the release of previously arrested colleagues. While Pepsu Road Transport Corporation vehicles remained operational, the broad reduction in fleet frequency forced long transit delays for travellers bound for regional hubs like Amritsar and Jagraon.

The widespread disruption concluded by evening after the bus union held successful negotiations with govt officials in Chandigarh. Following assurances regarding job regularisation and policy concessions, the union officially postponed the strike, ensuring that normal regional bus operations would resume fully the following morning.