Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the 12-hour statewide bandh, the Odisha Home Department on Wednesday directed all collectors to initiate necessary preventive and precautionary security measures to maintain law and order and avert any untoward incidents.
“.. take all preventive and precautionary security measures to maintain law a d order and remain alert against any untoward incident during the General Strike on 08.10.2026. Requisite arrangement may also be made to ensure smooth functioning of Central Government/ State Government Offices in the State. Situation may be kept under close watch to ensure maintenance of essential services in the State,” the letter issued by OSD-cum-Additional Secretary Soumendra Patra read.
Odisha Bandh on October 8 has been called by Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP and Samajwadi Party and will be observed from 6 am to 6 pm over demand for scrapping of the MMDR Amendment Act, dismissal Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityanand Gond, and immediate relief for flood victims. Agitating members are expected to stage road blockades, rallies, picketing, demonstrations, rail blockades (Rail Roko), and attempt the forced closure of mines, government offices, educational institutions, markets, and commercial establishments across the state, the letter further stated.
While shops, markets and business establishments are likely to remain closed, essential and emergency services have been kept out of the purview of the bandh. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, diagnostic centres, and blood banks will operate normally. Ambulances, fire service and emergency vehicles, medicine stores, milk distribution will also operate as usual.
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Meanwhile, the Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association said that its members would operate bus services as usual during the 12-hour statewide bandh called by INDIA bloc. However, auto-rickshaw services will remain suspended during bandh, according to the secretary of the State’s auto drivers’ association.
