Ludhiana, Feb. 21 -- Chaos erupted at the Ludhiana's Interstate Bus Terminus (ISBT) on Thursday afternoon when outsourced Punjab Roadways employees staged a protest over alleged salary delays from the past two months.

The demonstration, organised under the banner of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC contractual workers union, led to a complete shutdown of operations from 3 pm to 4.30 pm at the terminal, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and triggering severe traffic congestion outside the premises of the terminus.

With no clear communication from authorities, commuters found themselves trapped at the bus stand. "After finishing my classes, I was returning home when I realised that no bus operator was ready to operate. I kept a...