Punjab Newsline | Shimla
Punjab bandh called on Friday in support of the demand for the release of Sikh prisoners had a ripple effect in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, disrupting public transport services and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at bus terminals.
In response to the bandh, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) suspended all bus services heading towards Punjab until 2 pm as a precautionary measure. The impact was most visible at the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), where passengers travelling to Chandigarh, Delhi, Nalagarh and various destinations in Haryana were forced to wait for hours amid uncertainty over the resumption of services.
Many travellers complained of a lack of clear information regarding bus operations. Passengers said they were unable to get confirmation on whether services would resume immediately after the bandh period ended, adding to their inconvenience.
Poonam Sharma, who was travelling with her family to Pinjore in Haryana, said she had been waiting at the ISBT for nearly four hours. She said commuters were finding it difficult to plan their journeys as there was no definite update on the restoration of services.
Similarly, Kangra residents Sunil Kumar and Arun Kumar, who were headed to Nalagarh, said they had been stranded at the bus terminal for a considerable time due to the suspension of bus services. They expressed frustration over the delays and the lack of alternative travel options.
HRTC bus stand in-charge Sandeep Rana said the corporation had decided not to operate buses towards Punjab before 2 pm due to the bandh. He added that the situation in Punjab would be reviewed after the scheduled bandh period before a decision was taken on restoring services.
Rana further said that several HRTC routes had been temporarily suspended because of the bandh, affecting travel between Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and adjoining states. Authorities continued to monitor the situation to ensure passenger safety and smooth operations once services resumed.
