HYDERABAD: When the whole state is celebrating Diwali, the festival of light, it is a dull Diwali for over 48,000 Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) workers who have been part of the ongoing stir since October 5, and not been given their salaries.

The workers, who have been sacked by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, are without job and pay for six weeks now. They have been demanding the merger of the corporation along with the government, as well as 26 other demands.

The employees were unpaid this Dusshera as well.

"We have not bought crackers or new dress... I don't think we will buy. KCR has not given salary. Even in school they did not let me write my exam because we did not pay fees," a child told a news channel. Her parents are bus conductors in RTC buses.

"We are not even thinking of the festival. Dussehra was also like this and now Diwali. Children are sad... they want to celebrate but there is no money. They should give our salary soon," the girl's mother added.

Another child added, "I was looking forward to burst crackers but it is not happening as KCR has not given salary.”

It may be noted that TSRTC, which is already in losses, is under severe debt burden following the ongoing stir.

There have been many a deaths too. An employee of TSRTC on Saturday allegedly committed suicide at his residence in Telangana's Nalgonda by consuming poison.Till now three RTC employees have committed suicide and all of them were drivers working in different RTC depots.

Also Read | Another TSRTC Worker Dies, Consumes Poison