Shimla: Demanding regularisation of contract staff and protection of pension benefits, the Himachal Road Transport Corp (HRTC) staff today went on two days strike that crippled the transport services in the state.

The HRTC strike hit the commuters hard with connectivity between cities and towns affected. The HRTC has fleet of over 2200 buses and is an only transport medium connecting far-flung region of the state.

A huge crowd of commuters were visible at most of Bus stoppages, and overcrowding private and other state roadways buses.

The agitating HRTC staff are also demanding its conversion of corporation into roadways, and would resume work from Wednesday midnight.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday asked the HRTC employees to call off their proposed strike, and also directed the state government to look into their demands and redress their genuine grievances by June 20, the next date of hearing.