Punjab Bandh: 1700 Buses Offline in Ludhiana Leaving Passengers Stranded
Over 1,700 buses went offline in Ludhiana, leaving passengers stranded across the city. The sudden halt was a direct consequence of the recent Punjab Bandh.
Hundreds of passengers, found themselves stranded at Ludhiana’s major bus stands from as early as 7 AM as about 1700 buses went offline as a result of the Punjab Bandh today.
Caught unaware, commuters were left grappling with the sudden lack of options as public buses—usually a lifeline for intercity travel—vanished from the streets.
The suspension of services affected more than 70 key routes in and around Ludhiana. This included 600 state-owned buses, 150 from other states, and 950 private operators, all of whom stayed off the roads.
Aarti, a mother of two toddlers, shared her ordeal: “I’ve been stuck here since early morning with no information. The cold is unbearable, and I worry about my children falling ill.”
Similarly, Dharmendra Kumar, a Delhi-bound traveler, lamented, “I was excited for my New Year plans, but this disruption has ruined them. Waiting here in freezing temperatures is unbearable.”
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Taxis Hike Fares Amid Punjab Bandh
With buses offline, private taxi operators quickly stepped in to fill the void. However, passengers complained of exploitative fare hikes, with prices surging by Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 over normal rates on popular routes.
For many, these costs were prohibitive, leaving them stranded at bus stands for hours.
