Normal life has been disrupted across Odisha as the INDIA bloc observes a 12-hour bandh from 6 am to 6 pm on Thursday. The Congress, along with eight other opposition parties, has appealed to people to keep vehicles off the roads and shut shops, markets, commercial establishments and offices during the bandh.The shutdown has been called over four demands, including withdrawal of the MMDR Act, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and resignation of School & Mass Education minister Nityananda Gond over alleged irregularities in textbooks in the state and immediate and adequate relief for flood-affected families in the state.Essential services, however, have been kept outside the bandh. Hospitals, ambulances, fire and rescue services, medicine shops, milk supply, examinations and media personnel have been exempted.Buses, autos stay off roads.The biggest impact has been felt by people who depend on public transport for their daily commute. Although the state private bus owners’ association has not supported the bandh, bus services have been affected at several places amid protests and picketing.The Nikhila Utkal Auto Chalak Sangha has also decided to keep auto services off the roads, citing security concerns.In Bhubaneswar, protesters were seen blocking roads and stopping vehicles. At Master Canteen, bus and auto movement came to a halt as opposition workers staged demonstrations.In Sambalpur, protesters tried to stop a Ama bus at Laxmi Talkies Square. Police reached the spot and monitored the situation.At Cuttack, several passengers said they were unaware of the bandh and were caught off guard when buses stopped operating. A group of five travellers said they had visited Puri and were unable to return home after finding no buses available.
12-hr Odisha bandh hits normal life, public transport services disrupted
