Meerut, June 12 -- Around 1,000 employees from the Bareilly and Rohilkhand depots went on strike on Thursday, alleging negligence by transport department officials after the death of a roadways driver in a truck-bus collision in Shahjahanpur late Wednesday night. The employees demanded compensation for the deceased driver's family. The strike brought nearly 500 Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses to a standstill. Employees staged a sit-in at the Bareilly bus station from 6am, and parking buses on the roads, leading to a traffic jam stretching over a kilometre. The deceased driver, Pramod Yadav (30), a resident of Rampura village in the Hafizganj area of Bareilly, was returning from Lucknow on Wednesday night while driving a Rohilkhand Depot bus. At around 10pm, the bus collided with a truck in the Tilhar area of Shahjahanpur. Yadav sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital with the help of a private ambulance. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival. Roadways employees alleged that staff members repeatedly attempted to contact transport officials for assistance, but their calls went unanswered. Protesters claimed that timely intervention could have possibly saved his life. "The officers failed to respond when help was needed the most," said protesting employees. "Pramod was the sole breadwinner of his family. Had assistance reached on time, the outcome might have been different." The employees have demanded Rs.50 lakh compensation, a government job for the driver's wife, and other welfare measures for the bereaved family. They warned that the strike would continue until their demands were accepted. The transport officials who reached the protest site, assured protesters that all possible financial assistance would be extended to the deceased employee's family. Pramod Yadav's father, Shishupal, expressed grief and uncertainty about the family's future. Meanwhile, roadways employee Shripal alleged that officials readily respond to complaints from passengers but often ignore calls from drivers and conductors. Another employee, Thakur Jagatpal Singh, accused officials of imposing arbitrary salary deductions. Responding to the allegations, Arun Bajpai, assistant regional manager (ARM) of Rohilkhand Depot, described the incident as a tragic loss. "Pramod Yadav was driving a Rohilkhand Depot bus and lost his life in a road accident. Every possible financial assistance will be provided to his family. The demands of the protesting employees are under consideration. If any negligence on the part of officials is established, appropriate action will be taken," Bajpai said....