RTC suspends services as stir turns violent

Hyderabad,Dec 24: In view of the 48-hour bandh call given by Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao in protest against the Centre's plan to put on hold Telangana state formation,the Andra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation has suspended its services to many divisions in the state.The Apsrtc Hyderabad division on Thursday suspended all its services to Vijayawada putting passengers to a lot of inconvenience.Buses bound for Hyderabad from Vijayawada are being diverted through a circuitous route via Hanuman Junction.The RTC also suspended city buses in the city fearing attack on its fleet and on the suggestions of the police authorities.

 The RTC's Nizamabad division suspended 600 buses, Karimnagar division 800 buses,Khammam 550, Warangal 930, Mahabubnagar 814, Medak 600, Nalgonda 800 and Adilabad 500 buses.The RTC officials said the Telangana agitators torched eight buses and damaged about 50 in stone-pelting incidents since Wednesday night in the city.The ongoing agitation has badly affected RTC services in the state causing a loss of Rs 150 crore,the officials said.