'Chakka-jaam' halts normal life in Jammu on day 4

Jammu, Jun 12: The transporters' strike which entered the fourth day today, paralysed normal life here, with pilgrims and tourists bearing the burnt of the agitation. Various government offices, banks, schools, colleges and business establishments reported thin attendance, since commuters found it difficult to reach their destinations.

Besides Katra town, Jammu Tawi railway station and the general bus stand here were overcrowded with stranded passengers, police sources said, adding, ''Thousands of Vaishnodevi pilgrims and other tourists were stranded at various places between Jammu and Srinagar.'' However, the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) vehicles, which were pressed into service, also seemed to have failed to contain the increased pilgrim rush, following summer vacations in schools.

Meanwhile, acting on the call for strike given by the Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (JKTWA), minibuses, which ply small distances in the state, load carriers, taxis and inter-district transport vehicles remained off the road.

About 75,000 private transport vehicles came to a grinding halt in the entire state on Monday to protest against the government's apathetic attitude towards their demand of fare hike, especially after recent hike in fuel prices.

UNI