Tirupati, which is visited by lakhs of Lord Balaji devotees every day, wore a deserted look on Tuesday due to bandh against creation of the Telangana State in the Seemandhra region of the State.
Perhaps for the first time in the recent past, not a single bus plied to Tirumala as Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport (APSRTC) staff and AP NGOs have been participating in the strike since Monday in 13 districts of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
About 11,000 buses remained off the streets causing inconvenience to the public and brought normal life to a grinding halt. Many business establishments and petrol pumps also remained closed as part of the bandh.
The protests also continued in other places in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions for the 14th consecutive day, with educational institutes, universities and shops closed.
Meanwhile, in the review meeting here, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy directed Chief Secretary to monitor situation in departments including electricity, water, health, transport, civil supplies etc and make alternative transport arrangements for the pilgrims to reach Tirumala.
In the State Secretariat also a sizeable section of the employees owing allegiance to the APNGOs participated in the State, crippling Government activity.
On the political front, resignations continued with C. Ramachandraiah put in his papers from the Kiran Kumar Reddy cabinet. He belongs to Kadapa district of Rayalseema.