Bangalore: Thousands and thousands of commuters who rely on KSRTC buses have been stranded all over Karnataka with the KSRTC employees continuing with their strike even on Friday, despite government warning to invoke ESMA on the striking employees. Meanwhile, the strike gave a golden opportunity to the autorickshaw drivers to make hay while the sun shined.

Thousands of people can be seen in the Majestic bus stand in Bangalore. Some families of migrant labourers  with small children, were the worst affected. There were also complaints of fleecing by  autorickshaw passengers.

The strike has evoked  mixed response in north Karnataka and Hyderabad Karnataka regions and also in Mangalore division.

Meanwhile, reports said  that a total of 60 buses including 30 buses in the capital were stoned by  miscreants during the strike. Police gave arrested 45 persons in Bangalore,  109 in North Karnataka and 179 in Chikmagalur.

Almost all private buses were overcrowded with passengers due to the strike and passengers were trying to  stop private vehicles and requesting for a drop.

School and college children are the worst affected and the government has asked the education officers of the respective districts to ascertain the situation and then declare holiday.

KSRTC officials have said that the strike has incurred a loss of Rs 6 crore to the KSRTC and Rs 4 crore to the BMTC.