Mumbai, India's financial capital, was on Wednesday hit by a three-day strike called by nearly 200,000 Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport undertaking and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation workers, who are protesting against a cut in their dearness allowance.

The strike affected transport, hospitals, garbage disposal, water supply and crematoriums.

Over 46 lakh commuters were stranded as the 3,380 BEST buses stayed off the roads.

Maharashtra Mazdoor Union leader Sharad Rao is spearheading the move.

However, Rao made it clear that the employees are not on strike (because it is illegal) but have taken casual leave en masse.

Our workers worked round the clock when rain waters disrupted normal life in Mumbai last week. The city was flood and we cleaned all the gutters. We did so without complaint. All the top bosses of the BMC, including the municipal commissioner, did not play any significant role but still get a hike in their salaries. So the management should accept our demand on dearness allowance without any condition," he told rediff.com on Tuesday.