Shimla/Una, August 21: The impact of the Punjab bandh was felt in Himachal Pradesh on Friday, with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) suspending bus services to Punjab and other destinations beyond the state until 2 pm. The disruption left several passengers stranded at Una ISBT for hours.
Passengers travelling to Delhi, Chandigarh, Nalagarh, Haryana and other destinations were forced to wait as several inter-state bus routes remained suspended due to the bandh in neighbouring Punjab. The situation caused inconvenience to travellers, many of whom were unable to get clear information about when services would resume.
According to reports, the bandh in Punjab affected HRTC operations, prompting the corporation to temporarily halt buses heading towards the neighbouring state. HRTC officials said services would be resumed only after assessing the ground situation in Punjab.
Several passengers at Una ISBT complained of long waiting hours. Some said they had been waiting for nearly four hours without getting a confirmed update on the availability of buses.
HRTC officials said multiple routes had to be suspended because of the bandh, while buses were kept at the bus stand as a precautionary measure.
The disruption highlighted the immediate impact of developments in neighbouring Punjab on Himachal Pradesh’s inter-state transport network, particularly in border districts such as Una.
