MUMBAI, June 21 -- The indefinite strike called by a group of unions under the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking virtually brought Mumbai's bus network to a standstill on Saturday with not a single BEST-owned or wet-lease bus operating during the day and thousands of employees staying away from work. The second day of the agitation witnessed a far more severe impact than Friday, with an overwhelming response to the strike resulting in an almost complete shutdown of services. Though a limited number of drivers and conductors had initially reported for duty in the morning, buses that briefly ventured out were later pulled back to depots. Sources said some buses were allegedly targeted in stone-pelting incidents involving members of the 12-union umbrella body, the BEST Joint Workers' Action Committee or BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti, after which the vehicles were recalled. As the day progressed, all buses remained parked inside the undertaking's 27 depots and bus stations. According to BEST's turnout figures at 4pm, no buses were operational against a scheduled deployment of 238 owned buses and 2,438 wet-lease buses. The disruption left commuters scrambling for alternatives. Shared taxis, autorickshaws and bike taxis witnessed increased demand, while some private operators pressed around 300 buses into service in areas including Bandra-Kurla Complex, Powai, Dadar, Borivali, Ghatkopar and Nariman Point. "We did not receive any official confirmation for operating these private buses. However, considering the situation, some of our members ran these buses though fares charged were arbitrary," said a member of the Mumbai Bus Chalak Malak Sanghatana. With the NEET re-examination scheduled on Sunday across 63 centres in Mumbai, the BEST administration said it had arranged 60 additional Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses to ferry students between 9am and 1pm and again from 5pm to 7pm. The undertaking has also sought 100 MSRTC buses to augment regular services. A senior BEST official said, "Considering the situation that has arisen, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation was asked to arrange 100 buses so that passengers face no inconvenience." "Additionally, to prevent inconvenience to students at the 63 examination centres of the NEET exam across Mumbai, 60 additional MSRTC buses have been arranged and orders to this effect have been given to depot managers," added the BEST official. The BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti maintained that the strike would continue, alleging that the minutes issued after Friday's meeting with Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik did not reflect the assurances given by him. In a statement issued later in the day, the unions said they were willing to hold discussions with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis or deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde "at any time for a resolution. BEST chairperson Trusha Vishwasrao said, "If the strike continues for a third day, it becomes difficult to understand how many more appeals can be made," she said....