Ludhiana, Dec. 3 -- After four days of severe disruption, bus services of Punjab Roadways and PRTC finally resumed in Ludhiana on Tuesday afternoon as contractual workers returned to duty following the state government's decision to initiate the release of their detained union leaders. The strike, called by the Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contractual Workers Union, had crippled public transport since early Friday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and services operating at a fraction of capacity.

The agitation was withdrawn after the union received confirmation that jailed and detained union leaders were being released and that termination orders against contractual workers were revoked.

By Tuesday afternoon, almost all 133 b...