The Hindu Business Line : Bharat bandh paralyses Bengal

LIFE came to a standstill in West Bengal on Thursday, and all economic and industrial activities ceased, on account of the Bharat bandh called by the Left TUs, protesting against the economic policies of the UPA Government.

Public sector banks and insurance companies hardly functioned with employees failing to report for work in the absence of any form of transport in the State.

Clearing operations in the RBI were stalled throughout the State. Bank customers will be in for difficult times, with tomorrow being a half-year closing day, followed by a half-day operation on Saturday, and then Sunday and Monday being public holidays on account of Gandhi Jayanti and Mahalaya respectively.

Train services were disrupted by the bandh supporters affecting both the Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway systems, inconveniencing hundreds of rail passengers, many of whom were travelling to seek medical intervention at various places in South India.

According to highly-placed rail sources, the passengers were totally at the mercy of the bandh supporters. Indian Airlines operated just two flights into city in the morning and two out of Kolkata. All other flights to and from Kolkata were cancelled, airline sources said. Jet Airways and Sahara cancelled all flights to and from Kolkata. The airport staff of the airlines were allegedly pushed out of the airport premises by the striking Airports Authority of India staff.

Train services affected: While the bandh activists obstructed train services at several stations on different sections of the Eastern Railway's Sealdah, Howrah, Asansol and Malda divisions, bulk of the long distance trains of SER, scheduled to leave from Howrah, are still held up.

According to one railway source, it was difficult to cancel these trains, as some were carrying as many as 600 passengers, and many travelling for urgent medical treatment, with firm appointments at various hospitals.

According to an official release issued here on Thursday by Eastern Railway , train services could not be maintained since early morning on Thursday. In the Sealdah division, obstructions were made at 23 stations, including Dum Dum Jn, Khardaha, Shyamnagar, Naihati, Kanchrapara, Madanpur and Payradanga on mainline section.

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