Bus driver attempts self-immolation in Khammam

Khammam: The RTC employees' strike on eight-day (Saturday) took a tragic turn when a driver attempted suicide by setting himself ablaze in his house in Khammam, which is represented by Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar in the State Assembly.

Srinivas Reddy, working in the Khammam depot, doused himself with kerosene and set himself afire. He was rushed to a government hospital and later shifted to Hyderabad for better treatment. He has reportedly suffered about 90% burns and is said to be in critical condition.

According to sources, D Srinivas Reddy, who hails from Krishna district and settled in Khammam, had participated in protests in the morning hours in the city. When he went home on Saturday after attending the protest and watched the press conference of Transport Minister Puvvada Ajai Kumar in Hyderabad being telecast on television.

After that he decided to attempt suicide by immolating himself after dousing his body with kerosene. His son tried to prevent him from immolation but he did not stop. After that the family members rushed him to the government hospital for treatment.

On hearing about the self-immolation, the other employees gathered at the hospital and raised slogans against the TRS government. After the incident, the angry JAC leaders conducted rasta-roko before the Collectrate. Amid slogans of the anti-government they demanded the resignation of Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar immediately.

The protesting RTC workers blamed the Transport Minister for driver Srinivas' self immolation attempt. They said that the driver Srinivas had attempted suicide only after watching the press conference of the Transport Minister on television.

The protesters said that the government should take the responsibility of Srinivas' family.

Meanwhile, the agitating RTC workers stopped an RTC bus which was running by the temporary driver and shatter the window panes of the bus.

On eighth day of the strike, the RTC workers and JAC leaders staged protest sporting black ribbons on Saturday morning.

When they were protesting at the Collectorate after Srinivas' suicide attempt, another driver R Venkateswara Chary also tried to attempt suicide. However, his colleagues intervened and prevented him from doing so.