With thousands of RTC employees of the Telangana region joining the mass general strike on its 7th day today, normal life came to a grinding halt across Telangana including Hyderabad city. The state government looked helpless as the strike has gained momentum in the wake of the several segments announcing their support to the strike sponsored by the Telangana political JAC demanding the formation of separate Telangana state.

The chief minister held a high level meeting in his chamber at the secretariat with senior ministers and officials this morning and discussed on ways and means to scuttle the strike.

RTC management withdrew its city bus services in Hyderabad as well as on the long distance routes in the Telangana districts and also between Hyderabad and other towns in AP because of the strike. In Telangana, no RTC employee reported for duty.

In the state capital, most of the offices and business establishments remained closed due to the strike and the attendance in the secretariat was almost negligible. Educational institutions, cinema halls and private businesses also were shut down in all districts of Telangana because of lack of transport.

In Hyderabad, only private taxis, setwin-buses and seven-seater autos operated their skeleton services as police provided security at key points. RTC employees, who have announced their support to the mass general strike for the sake of Telangana, boycotted duties and locked their depot gates.

Pro-Telangana agitators also caused a blockade of the national highways in and around Hyderabad at several towns in T region resulting in the obstruction of goods traffic.