Thiruvananthapuram:
Normal life in Kerala continued to be crippled as the indefinite strike by private bus operators demanding fare hike entered the second day today.
Hundreds of private buses, the main means of transport for vast sections of people, continued to be off the road throughout the state except the capital city.
Reports from across the state said the stir caused severe hardship to office-goers, teachers and students as they had to rely on other modes of transport for reaching work places.
"Since yesterday, I have engaged an auto rickshaw to commute between home and office, 10 km from here", said Balagopalan, a bank employee from Kozhikode district.
The Government had yesterday warned bus owners of stern measures including suspension of route permits if they continued the strike.
"We have asked the district superintendents of police to furnish a detailed list of buses keeping off the roads in violation of permit conditions. Then we will take stock of the situation and take whatever steps are urgently required", a spokesperson from the office of Transport Minister Jose Thettayil said.
The strike, however, did not affect the state capital as the private buses, operating on temporary licenses, conducted their services.