Balangir: Normal life was paralysed in the district headquarter of Balangir in Odisha for the second consecutive day on Friday due to bandh called by the Balangir Joint Action Committee to press their demand for construction of bypass road outside the town.
Yesterday, the town Congress committee observed 12-hour bandh here for the same purpose.
The bandh was called following the death of a college student in a road accident on NH-26 on Wednesday.
The protestors demanded construction of bypass roads on NH stretches to avoid road mishaps in the town, which witnesses traffic congestions daily.
All Government and private offices, banks and insurance offices remained closed while schools and colleges declared a holiday. Business establishments too had downed shutters to avoid any damage to property.
With vehicular communication coming to a standstill in and outside the town, commuters had a narrowing time reaching their destinations.
Bandh supporters also held a rally and resorted to picketing and road blockade in important junctions in the town.
Members of truck and taxi unions, chamber of commerce, trade union, bar association, chemist union, action committee, Bajrang Dal and ABVP also extended their support to the bandh call.
A Plus Two girl student was mowed down by a speeding truck at Satyanarayan Pada on Wednesday morning, while she was on her way to Balangir Government College. Soon after the incident, students and political activists had staged a road blockade by keeping the dead body on road. They demanded adequate compensation for the family of the deceased.
Ms Kalinga AI