Bharat Bandh disrupts air, rail traffic

The 12-hour Bharat bandh called today by the Left-led 13- party front against spiralling prices is affecting life across states where these parties have a stronghold.

The BJP is not participating in this bandh call.

The parties which have taken the leading role to make this bandh a success are the Communist Party of India (CPI), Biju Janata Dal, Communist Party of India (M), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Samajwadi Party (RSP).

The streets of Patna witnessed utter chaos despite the markets being completely shut.

To show how the soaring prices have tormented them, people took to the streets. Besides voicing their concerns, people were also lying flat on the ground with their arms outstreched, to ensure that the right message is sent across.

A horde of people were shouting slogans against the UPA government.

Agitated with the price hike, people burnt tyres in Patna.

Patna saw women coming out in full swing to protest against the inflation. They took the centre stage and vociferously reflected their resentment by squatting on the streets and raising slogans.

LJP president Ramvilas Paswan and other opposition leaders were at the fore front of the protests in Patna with more than 4000 bandh supporters taking to the roads.

The local markets were completely closed with not a single shop opening its shutter.

People set out on bikes, waving flags and protesting against the soaring prices.

RJD and LJP workers forcibly blocked traffic by lying on roads.

Depite police presence, the protests were being carried out emphatically with the cops doing little to avert the bedlam.

The road traffic was disrupted by the protestors and vehicles were stopped.

Two state buses were set on fire by Samajwadi Party on the outskirts of Lucknow at around 5.30 am.

Besides that, all the shops were also closed in the city.

Train services have also been severely disrupted at various places in Uttar Pradesh.

Samajwadi Party workers stopped the Ganga Gomti Express in Allahabad.

Trains have also been stopped a stone's throw from the Capital, in Ghaziabad.

There is complete bandh in Kerala too.

Shops, business establishment, schools and other educational institutions are also completely closed.

Public and private transport was off the road.

While there are reports of trains being disrupted at some places, no air traffic disruption has been reported so far.

However, passengers were stranded at various junctures, specifically those who travel in buses.

With the Left parties leading the bandh call, West Bengal is expectedly worst-hit.

At Kolkata airport, only Air India is operating flights. All private airlines have stopped services. No taxis are available at the airport and railway stations as all prepaid booths are closed.

The bandh has also disrupted train traffic. While nine long-distance trains arrived at Howrah and Sealdah, a number of other Kolkata-bound trains are stuck - Kanchakanya at Burdwan, Kamrup Express at Sreerampur, Purbanchal Express at Baichi, Barbhanga Express at Pandua.

Among the Howrah-bound trains stuck are the Mumbai Mail at Uluberia, Koeraput Express at Mecheda, Yashwantpur from Bangalore at Pashkura, Ranchi-Hatia at Kharagpur and Puri-Howrah Garibrath at Sakrail.

All local trains in Kolkata have also been stalled at various places where there are blockades. South-eastern Railway has reported blockade at 15 to 16 places in West Bengal.

All private airlines have stopped services. No taxis are available at the airport and railway stations as all prepaid booths are closed.

There is no train or air traffic disruption in Orissa so far.

But protesters are planning to stop few major trains and disrupt road traffic at some points.

They are reportedly stopping work only at central government offices.

State offices are not affected.

Crowds led by women protested holding huge green and red flags and banners.