Locals suffer as bus drivers call for strike in Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 18 (ANI): Harried locals were unable to commute to their work-places on Thursday as the Bombay Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) union, which supplies a large number of buses to the city, called for a strike over a wage hike.

Locals were seen waiting at various bus stops, as they had no prior information about the bus strike.

"Since morning, we have been standing here. I commute from Sewri to Dadar, and there is no bus service available. In the morning I came in a bus, which left me here. So how will I commute now?" said Ragini Panth, a local.

"We have no knowledge if the bus service is available or not? Since morning, I have been standing here. I left home to go to the college, but I did not know that the buses are not plying. And it is now that we came to know that there is bus strike," said Vishal, a student.

Drivers, who attempted to defy the protest orders, were beaten and the buses were vandalised.

"Today BEST workers are on a strike. They are demanding a hike in their wages but there was no need to beat up the staff. Such incidents can cause damage to the bus and to the bus drivers," Sachin Chauhan, a bus conductor.

If the strike continues, locals shall continue to be inconvenienced as BEST buses as it is one of the most important modes of transport for the Mumbai. (ANI)