Life was paralysed in Tripura and Bihar and affected in many places in Odisha, West Bengal and Assam today due to the two-day nationwide strike called by the Central Trade Unions.
Banking and related financial services were also hit badly as employees joined the strike against the Central Government’s economic policies.
In Left Front-ruled Tripura, shops and markets were closed, as were schools, colleges, banks and financial institutions. Private buses and taxis were off the roads and train services came to a standstill in the State, though flight operations were normal.
CITU workers staged a dharna on the train lines at the Agartala railway station.
Markets, shops closed
In NDA-ruled Bihar, bandh supporters were seen forcing traders to down shutters as markets and business establishments remained closed.
Bandh supporters took to the streets in Patna, Bhagalpur, Purnia, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Madhubani and elsewhere in the State and raised slogans against the Central Government.
In Patna, private and government schools were shut as a precautionary measure. Rail and road traffic was also severely hit in several parts of the State as bandh supporters demonstrated on the railway tracks.
No pvt bus service
In Congress-ruled Assam, long-distance private buses were off the roads, though government buses ran, while shops were closed in many areas.
Auto-rickshaws came to the rescue of commuters and students appearing for the high school and higher secondary examinations. Train services and flights were normal in the State.
Banks remain closed
In BJD-ruled Odisha, shops, markets, business establishments, petrol pumps and restaurants remained closed and roads wore a deserted look. Banks remained closed with employees picketing and demonstrating at different places.
Train services were disrupted by protesters blocking tracks at many places including Bhubaneswar, besides at Cuttack, Balasore, Khurda Road, Berhampur and Sambalpur, railway sources said.
Commuters faced difficulties as buses, taxis and autorickshaws remained off the roads leaving a large number of passengers, including women and children, stranded.