Chandigarh, July 1 -- A protest by Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) contractual employees threw traffic into chaos on Monday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours on key highways connecting Chandigarh, Mohali, Zirakpur and Kharar.

The protest, which lasted over four hours, resulted in complete blockade of major entry points to the city, including the Kharar-Mohali stretch and the Chandigarh-Ambala highway. Commuters were left trapped in long traffic jams.

The unrest began after protesting employees were allegedly denied entry into the office of the PRTC director in Sector-17, Chandigarh, where they had gone to present their long-pending demands for the regularisation of contractual staff. According to protesters...