TGSRTC Strike Enters Day 3, Driver’s Death Intensifies Protests Across Telangana

Hyderabad, April 2026 : The indefinite strike by employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) entered its third day on Friday, severely disrupting public transport services across the state, even as a Cabinet sub-committee prepared to hold crucial talks with employee representatives.

With nearly 40,000 employees staying away from duties, the majority of RTC buses remained off the roads, leaving commuters stranded and struggling to find alternative modes of transport. The impact has been widespread, affecting office-goers, students, and daily wage workers the most.

The situation turned more volatile following the death of a 55-year-old RTC driver, Shankar Goud, who had set himself on fire during a protest in Warangal district on Thursday. He succumbed to his injuries at Apollo DRDO Hospital in Hyderabad early Friday after suffering nearly 80 per cent burns. His death has further fuelled tensions and intensified the ongoing agitation.

Tension prevailed in Muthojipet as police intervened to prevent protesting employees from shifting Goud’s body to the Narsampet depot, the site where he had attempted self-immolation. The move sparked protests, with Opposition leaders from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) backing the employees. A scuffle broke out between demonstrators and the police during the confrontation.

Police detained BRS leader and former MLA Peddi Sudershan Reddy amid the unrest and shifted him to a police station. Authorities have since heightened security at RTC depots across Telangana to prevent any escalation. Officials also confirmed that at least two other employees attempted self-immolation on Thursday, but their attempts were thwarted by colleagues and police personnel.

In response to the developments, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of RTC employees convened an emergency meeting to reassess their strategy ahead of discussions with the government. The talks are expected to be led by a Cabinet sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

Despite the strike, TGSRTC officials said efforts were being made to operate partial services using hired, private, and electric buses. Limited bus operations were reported from key hubs such as Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) in Hyderabad. Some inter-state services to neighbouring states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra were also being run from MGBS.

However, these limited arrangements have fallen short of meeting demand, leading to overcrowding in alternative transport systems. Metro rail and MMTS train services witnessed an unprecedented surge in passengers, with long queues and packed coaches becoming a common sight.

The State Cabinet, which met on Thursday evening, appealed to striking employees to call off the agitation and exercise restraint. The government reiterated its willingness to resolve the issues through dialogue and expressed hope for a positive outcome from the upcoming talks.

As negotiations loom, the coming hours are likely to be critical in determining whether the deadlock between the government and TGSRTC employees can be resolved, or if the agitation will intensify further amid rising public inconvenience and emotional tensions.