Ludhiana, Aug. 14 -- Passengers relying on public bus services were once again left high and dry, after contractual workers of Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC brought services to a grinding halt on Thursday. It is the second strike in a week, plunging daily travel into turmoil and forcing hundreds of commuters to scramble for costly or "unreliable" alternatives.

Earlier, workers had stopped bus operations on August 8 for around one and a half hours before calling off the protest after the state transport department agreed to hold talks on August 13. However, with the discussions failing to resolve issues, the strike was resumed on Thursday, protesters said.

Under the banner of Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contractual Workers Union,...