Telangana RTC Strike: Hours Before Talks With Govt, 55-Year-Old Driver Dies After Self-Immolation

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 09:27 IST

Goud was a driver at the Narsampet RTC depot and a native of Khanapur mandal in Warangal district. He had served the corporation for 25 years.

Kola Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old TGSRTC driver who set himself on fire during the ongoing RTC strike, passed away at around 3 am on Friday at Apollo DRDO Hospital in Hyderabad, where he had been admitted with over 80 per cent burns. His death has sharpened the crisis surrounding the indefinite strike that began on April 22.

What Happened At Narsampet?

On Thursday, during protests at the Narsampet depot in Warangal district, Goud poured petrol on himself and set himself ablaze in front of the bus stand.

His colleagues noticed him on fire, rushed to douse the flames and took him to hospital. He sustained nearly 81 per cent burns and was first treated at MGM Hospital in Warangal, before being shifted to Hyderabad in a special ambulance amid tight police security.

Who Was Shankar Goud?

Goud was a driver at the Narsampet RTC depot and a native of Khanapur mandal in Warangal district. He had served the corporation for 25 years. His act was driven by frustration over unresolved demands including the merger of TGSRTC with the state government, salary issues and job security.

How Have Unions Responded?

The Joint Action Committee blamed the state government and RTC management for the incident, alleging that Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar’s claim that 29 of 32 demands had been addressed had caused deep anguish among employees, as key election manifesto promises remain unfulfilled.

What Is The Government’s Position?

The government has appealed for calm and set up a committee under Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka to hold talks with union leaders on Friday. Goud’s death, however, has raised the stakes considerably — making a swift resolution harder to avoid, and harder to achieve.

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