Bharat Bandh Partial In Odisha On Day 2

Bhubaneswar: Life was partially hit in most parts of Odisha on the second day of the two-day nationwide bandh by 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) on Wednesday.

Reports reaching from across the state said that the intensity of the bandh was less compared to Tuesday.

In Balasore district, the trade union activists detained Puri-Howrah Passenger and Puri-Baripada Passenger trains. All trading establishments, industrial units and educational institutions remained closed.

In Berhampur, Palasa-Bhubaneswar passenger train was detained.

In Sundargarh district, the trade union activists picketed in front of Rourkela Steel Plant and the Bisra Chhak. Barring a few two-wheelers, there was no plying of heavy vehicles in the Steel City.

In view of the stray violence in the city on Tuesday, the district administration has deployed additional police force.

Tension ran high in the Steel City on Tuesday after some unknown miscreants set fire to the house of the labour union leader of Gangpur Shramik Mazdoor Sangh, Chakradhar Mohanta late on Tuesday.

According to sources, the miscreants set fire to the house after locking the front door of the house. Though there was no loss of life of any of the family members, three scooty and a bike parked in the garage were completely gutted.

In the mining area of Bonai sub-division in the district, six railway sidings have been closed while the agitators staged a road blockade on NH-143 and 520 disrupting vehicular traffic.

In Cuttack, plying of buses from the Badambadi bus stand has completely stopped. In Raja Athagarh railway station, the agitators have detained Puri-Rourkela Passenger train.

However, in Bhubaneswar, vehicular traffic has resumed in all parts of the city. The trade union activists had detained the Garib Rath Express train at the railway station and were seen picketing at the Master Canteen Square.

In Jagatsinghpur district, the cargo loading and unloading is underway in the prohibited area of the  Paradip Port.

In Rayagada district, there was no disruption of train services. However, vehicles stayed off the road in the district. In Muniguda town, the activists of the All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) staged a road blockade at Bhursikhuma Chhak.