Ludhiana, July 2 -- Tensions flared at Middha Chowk on Tuesday morning after a group of sanitation workers, aggrieved over non-payment of salaries for several months, dumped heaps of garbage on the road and staged a protest, blocking traffic for hours.

The protesting workers, hired by the Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) on contract around two years ago, claimed they had not received their wages for the past 8 to 10 months. Amid heavy rainfall, the road leading to the garbage compactor site was filled with foul-smelling waste, creating inconvenience for commuters and residents in the area.

The civic body had reportedly hired 154 sanitation workers on contract, but their salary disbursement has remained stuck. Officials said the file ...