Bandh hits normal life

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Vijyawada: A one-day bandh called by Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samiti was total and peaceful in all the 13 Seemandhra districts, on Tuesday.
Besides, educational institutions, which have been closed since August 23, shops, business establishments, theatres, petrol bunks and even private transport came to a standstill paralysing normal life in the districts. The Samaikyandhra agitators staged a rasta roko on the Vijayawada-Hyderabad national highway at Jaggaiahpet and at Nandigama.
In Visakhapatnam, people from all walks of life took part in the shut down voluntarily. Autorickshaws, taxis, RTC buses were off the road. Many offices and shops declared a holiday. Hotels, restaurants, small food joints, cinema halls were also closed.
In Rajahmundry, everything remained closed and the bandh went off peacefully. The supporters of Samaikyandhra hit the roads from the early hours raising slogans against the Congress leadership.
As establishments remained closed, sales worth several crores in both East and West Godavari districts were affected.
In Tirupati, thousands of pilgrims faced hardships with commercial establishments, offices, hotels and restaurants remaining closed throughout the day. Apart from the RTC buses, even the private taxis and autos went off the road as part of the bandh. With no alternative mode of transport to Tirumala, pilgrims were forced to remain at Tirupati till the evening.
In Nellore district, normal life was paralysed and traffic movement came to a grinding halt for hours as activists squatted on the highway in different parts of the district. All business establishments remained closed in Kurnool and Anantapur districts
In Kadapa, large number of Samaikyandhra JAC activists, from Rims medical college, were outside the residence of minority welfare minister, S. Ahmadulla, demanding his resignation. More than 4,000 students from Idupulapaya IIIT began a padayatra for 40 km, towards Gandi Kshetram, in support of Samaikyandhra.
The bandh was a complete success in Prakasam district with all business establishments, hotels, shops, banks, Central government offices, remaining closed not only in Ongole to-wn, but also at Markapuram, Kandukuru, Chirala, Cheemakurthy, Addanki and Giddalur municipalities.