Bus driver ends life as transport strike enters 40th day in Telangana

As the state-wide transport employee’s strike in Telangana entered its 40th day, a bus driver working at the Mahabubabad bus depot committed suicide on Wednesday (November 13) allegedly for not receiving two months’ salary and fears of losing his job.

According to a news report, 45-year-old Avila Naresh has been working as a bus driver at the Mahabubabad depot for 15 years. He committed suicide at his house in the wee hours by consuming pesticide. Naresh left a suicide note, in which he urged Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to look into the demands of the striking employees.

Also read | Third bus conductor suicide in Telangana amid transport strike

As the news of his death broke out, hundreds of protesting workers took his body to the Mahbubabad bus depot and staged a dharna. The victim’s family was also a part of the protest, reports added. Security measures have been stepped up in the area.

As many as 48,000 employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) have been on a strike since October 5 seeking the merger of the TSRTC with the government among other demands. The chief minister had rejected the demands.

Earlier, at least three transport employees were reported to have committed suicide in this connection, including one woman bus conductor. Neeraja, a woman conductor working in the Sathupally depot, had hanged herself on October 27 night.

(With inputs from agencies)