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Bhubaneswar: Normal life has been severely affected across Odisha with the beginning of 24-hour all India strike called by 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) protesting hike in price of essential commodities, unemployment, “anti-people” policies of the Centre and several other issues.
Educational institutions remained closed in several districts while public transport like bus and train services have been adversely affected due to the bandh. Similarly, business establishments and banks remained shut in many parts of the State. However, emergency services continue to remain unaffected.
Bhubaneswar-Bolangir Intercity, Puri-Rourkela Passenger train remained stranded at Bhubaneswar railway station while Howrah-Yesvantpur Express and Ichhapur-Cuttack MEMU halted at Berhampur. Similarly, Puri-Vishakhapatnam Passenger was also stuck at Gunupur station. Bhadrak-Brahmapur passenger, Kendujhargarh-Bhubaneswar passenger were also stranded en route at Bhadrak from 6.30 AM and Kendujhargarh from 6.30 AM.
The agitators staged rail roko at Pattasahi, Bimlagarh and Roxy stations in Bonai during the Bharat Bandh, affecting the train services. Kharagpur-Khurda passenger reportedly detained by agitators at Balasore, Puri-Ernakulam Express in Markona while Puri-Cuttack Passenger is yet to depart from Puri. Paradip Bharak Passenger also remained stranded at Cuttack station while Seva Express train has been detained at Rajsunakhala station in Nayagarh. The train passengers have been facing harrowing time as they remained stranded at various stations.
List of trains detained en route:
- Kendujhargarh-Bhubaneswar passenger at Kendujhargarh from 6.3 AM to 8. 40 AM.
- Bhubaneswar-Balangir Inter City at Bhubaneswar from 6. 30 AM and left at 7 15 AM.
- Chennai-Howrah Coromandal Express at Bhubaneswar from 7. 30 AM to 8. 22 AM.
- Ahamadabad-Puri Express at Balugaon from 7. 25 AM to 7. 50 AM.
- Jagadalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express at Balugaon from 8 AM to 8. 40 AM.
- Hyderabad-Howrah East Coast Express at Nirakarpur from 7.89 AM to 8.30 AM.
- Yesvantpur-Howrah Duronto Express controlled at Ichhapuram from and now left Chhatrapur at 9.07 AM.
- Secunderabad-Howrah Falaknuma Express at Sompeta from 6. 55 AM to 8.20 AM.
- Palasa-Bhubaneswar MEMU at Mandasa Road from 7.21 AM to 8.34 AM.
- Bangalore Cant.-Bhubaneswar Express at Palasa from 7.36 AM to 8.46 AM.
After intervention of government railway police (GRP) personnel, the rail roko agitations have been called off at Bhubaneswar, Kendujhargarh and Brahmapur stations.
Train movements in Waltair division is normal but due to control of trains en route in Khurda Road Division, the following trains will be controlled en route suitably.
- 12503 Bangalore Cant-Agartala Humsafar Express at Agartala
- 17480 Tirupati-Puri Express at Srikakulam Road.
- 22604 Villupuram-Kharagpur Express at Chipurupalle.
- 17016 Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar Visakha Express at Vizianagaram
- 18048 Vascodagama-Howrah Amaravati Express at Vizianagaram
Howrah-Puri Sri Jaganath Express, Howrah-Puri Garib Rath Express, Howrah-Puri Express, Hatia-Puri Tapaswini Express, Haridwar-Puri Kalinga Utkal Express and New Delhi-Puri Purusottam Express have already arrived at Puri station. However, Puri – Gunupur Passenger and Puri - Cuttack Passenger trains are yet to depart from Puri due to the agitation.
The situation is normal at Bhubaneswar station and only one goods train was detained. At some stations, trains started running after the GRP personnel persuaded the agitators.
Meanwhile, the railways authorities have cancelled several trains due to the ongoing agitation and late running of link trains on Wednesday.
Trains cancelled:
1. Cuttack-Bhadrak-Cuttack Passenger
2. Bhubaneswar-Brahmapur-Bhubaneswar Passenger
3. Pardip-Cuttack-Paradip Passenger
Around 500 workers & members of #Odisha Congress including OPCC Chief Niranjan Patnaik, CPI (M) leader Janardan Pati taken into custody during #BharatBandh2020: Twin City Addl Commissioner & Bhubaneswar DCP Anup Sahoo pic.twitter.com/5da0LEq5re
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
Trade unions had intimated me about their demands last year & I have put those forward before Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik: #Odisha PWD Minister Prafulla Mallick #BharatBandh2020 pic.twitter.com/Om8unsEdsh
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
BJD distances itself from ongoing #BharatBandh agitation. "People always have several demands, but I am not in favour of holding protest by affecting normal life," says State water resources minister Raghunandan Das #Odisha pic.twitter.com/dXDABAW9oJ
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
Communist parties are professional agitators & often hit streets to stay relevant in present-day politics. Demands of CPI, SUCI, CPI (M) over #BharatBandh do not match & Congress is agenda-less, so I don't understand why it is supporting the shutdown: BJP's Prithviraj Harichandan pic.twitter.com/nVkBN01GMh
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
#WATCH: Stranded passengers sing & play guitar to lighten their mood while waiting at #Bhubaneswar airport during #BharatBandh agitation #Odisha pic.twitter.com/Lci0FP8bTy
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
Amid the ongoing #BharatBandh agitation, several ministers, secretaries & other employees were seen arriving at Lok Seva Bhawan on two-wheelers; security tightened in & around the place in view of the strike #Odisha pic.twitter.com/MK93sxKIJp
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
Passengers narrate their ordeal after hours of being stranded at Puri Railway Station due to the ongoing #BharatBandh agitation #Odisha
Listen in. pic.twitter.com/d9Gmz3iAsc
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
Air passengers bear the brunt of #BharatBandh agitation as they remain stranded at #Bhubaneswar Airport #Odisha pic.twitter.com/tKppWmGIwj
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
#BharatBandh: Two trains stranded due to ‘rail roko’ agitation at Balasore Railway Station. #Odisha
(Deferred Visual) pic.twitter.com/Q9Y4dUXMwS
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
#Odisha Congress extends full support to #BharatBandh protest called by trade unions; party workers led by MLA Suresh Routray join agitation in #Bhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/h663uDYvpw
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
The shutdown is peaceful till now & we are ensuring that untoward incidents do not happen during the #BharatBandh, says Twin City Addl Police Commissioner Anup Sahoo #Odisha pic.twitter.com/gajVEfDbxV
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
A speeding fish-laden truck overturns during #BharatBandh protest by agitators near Bisra Chhak in Rourkela; police cordon off spot to prevent people from looting the fish #Odisha pic.twitter.com/5J0v1NenLI
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
The Centre is amending labour laws for the interest of corporates & neglecting workers; its policies have been unable to control rising prices of commodities: Rama Krushna Panda, national secretary of AICTU on #BharatBandh #Odisha pic.twitter.com/HGu5NWGqXH
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
#BharatBandh: #Watch visuals from Gunupur in #Rayagada where normalcy has been thrown out of gear due to picketing by agitators on main highways #Odisha pic.twitter.com/yYjJzxTOb0
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020
#BharatBandh by central unions affects several entrance examinations such as the JEE Main 2020 in #Odisha. Candidates of JEE exam seen arriving at exam centres much before the scheduled time in order to avoid inconvenience. Here's what they have to say.
Listen in. pic.twitter.com/SthvrkW1lx
— OTV (@otvnews) January 8, 2020