National

Kerala Bus Driver Dons Helmet Amid Bharat Bandh Chaos

Thiruvananthapuram: A Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus driver took an unusual precaution during Wednesday’s nationwide Bharat Bandh, wearing a helmet while operating a bus from Pathanamthitta to Kollam. The driver, identified as Shibu Thomas, resorted to the safety measure due to fears of violence sparked by the general strike, which disrupted public transport across Kerala.

Visuals captured showed Thomas navigating the bus while wearing a helmet, a response to the tense atmosphere caused by the strike called by central trade unions. The strike, protesting the central government’s alleged anti-worker and anti-farmer policies, led to significant disruptions, with a KSRTC bus being blocked in Adoor by pro-strike activists. In Kozhikode, another KSRTC driver was injured after protesters hurled stones at a bus windshield, underscoring the risks faced by drivers.

The strike saw widespread participation from trade unions, including INTUC and CITU, though the BJP-affiliated BMS opted out. Despite Kerala Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar’s assertion that KSRTC services would operate normally, as no official strike notice was received from unions, many buses remained off the roads. In Thiruvananthapuram, no KSRTC buses operated, forcing passengers at the railway station to rely on police vehicles for transport. Some autorickshaws run by BMS workers continued to ply in the capital.

The Bharat Bandh, backed by a coalition of 10 central trade unions representing 25 crore workers, caused widespread disruptions in banking, postal, and other public services across India, though essential services like railways and tourism were exempted.

Back to top button