Suicides and suicide attempts by staffers of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC)—one of India’s biggest bus fleets—continued with reports of two incidents in the past 48 hours. Meanwhile, around 10 per cent of bus depots were shut on Friday due to protests. The government is mulling implementing the Essential Services Maintenance Act to clamp down on the agitations.

In the first incident, a 56-year-old State Transport (ST) bus driver, allegedly hanged himself from a ladder behind the vehicle at Shevgaon bus depot in Ahmednagar on Thursday night, an official said. Sources said the driver, Dilip Haribhau Kakade, had finished his duty on Thursday and joined the ongoing strike. As their demands were met, the protesters celebrated and Kakade allegedly left the depot. However, he later returned to the premises and was found hanging in the morning. The reason behind his step remains unknown as police officers have not found any notes so far.