Two carts and a broken bench were enough to paralyse traffic on Kankerbagh main road during the 12-hour bandh on Thursday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Life came to a standstill in the city on Thursday. From files in the secretariat to buses on roads, nothing moved. The dose of strike was so strong that the number of ailing persons visiting hospitals dropped.

Barring the bandh enforcers, hardly anybody could go around the town. Railway passengers were harassed because of blockade on tracks. Taxi drivers fleeced plane passengers.

Overall, the NDA strike against the Centre’s decisions aimed at economic reforms was “peaceful”. But deserted streets and fewer patients in out patient department (OPD) of hospitals revealed the uncanny fear among people about bandhs.

Health hit

The strike hit medical services in the capital big time. The doctors at the OPD of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) attended to just half the number of patients they usually treat. On Wednesday, around 1,500 patients were treated at the OPD between 8am and 1.30pm. The number of patients slumped to 700 on Thursday.

The patients’ turnout at private clinics was also low.

People coming to the state capital for treatment from other districts were the worst-sufferers. Most of them had to walk down to hospitals from railway stations or bus stops.

Jamui-based Dilip Thakur, who came to PMCH for his daughter’s treatment, said: “As autorickshaw and buses were not plying, I had to walk to PMCH from the Patna Junction station.”

Several people said bringing food for their relatives admitted to the hospital was an uphill task.

Suraj Kumar, a resident of Musallahpur Haat area in Patna, said: “My uncle, Vinod Kumar, is undergoing treatment at PMCH for the past 10 days. The bandh supporters blocked Ashok Rajpath at several places and did not allow anybody to commute. The doctors attending to my uncle told me to serve him lunch between 12noon and 12.30pm. But today (Thursday) I could give him food around 2pm because I had to a take a circuitous route to the health hub.”

Masaurhi resident Vijay Kumar said: “As there were no vehicles, I had no other option but to walk up to Sabzibagh market to get food for my nephew, admitted at PMCH for the past one week with some stomach ailment.”

Trains stranded

Railway commuters had a harrowing time, as BJP MLA Arun Kumar Sinha staged a dharna with his supporters on tracks at Rajendra Nagar Terminus as early as 5.30am. Malda-Patna Express (13415) and a passenger train were at the station then. The team disrupted train services till 9.30am.

Another BJP MLA, Nitin Navin, and his supporters blocked railway movement at Patna Junction from 5.30am to 8.55am. Passengers of Rajdhani Express (12310), Mahananda Express (14084), Lal Quila Express (13111), Seemanchal Express (12487) and several other trains had to bear the brunt.

Both the BJP MLAs claimed that they disrupted train movement for the benefit of masses. But the commuters refused to buy their argument.

With all the eateries closed, the train passengers were visibly frustrated at Patna Junction.

Dhirendra Kumar, on board Lal Quila Express, said: “If the NDA and the Left parties have problem with the UPA government’s decisions, they should protest in front of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s house. Why are they troubling us? I do not think this is the right practice. The nationwide shutdown has affected large number of people.”

Tired of waiting for Lokmanya Tilak Express (13201), AN College student Nidhi Suman started playing ludo on platform number one. “These politicians create trouble for us all the time. They will protest here for some time and retire to air-conditioned rooms, leaving us in trouble. “I strongly condemn such political protests in which common people are affected,” she added.

Fliers foxed

Fliers landing at Patna airport on Thursday were soft targets of taxi drivers. The minimum fare they demanded was Rs 1,000.

The taxi drivers charged air passengers Rs 1,800 for a trip to the railway station from the airport. On usual days, the fare is Rs 200. Those going to hotel Maurya from the airport were asked to pay Rs 2,000 instead of around Rs 200 on a normal day.

The exorbitant fare did not ensure safe travel to the destination, though. Jyothish V. Nair, the airport in-charge of Akbar Travels of India (the authorised taxi agency at the airport), claimed that most taxi drivers venturing out on Thursday had to either drop the passengers midway or return to the airport because of blockades.

“Many private taxi drivers charged hefty amount from people. But a few could reach their destination. They took the money in advance and left the passengers wherever there was a blockade or a demonstration. Two of our taxis returned in the morning within few minutes because of stone pelting on streets,” said Nair.

Several members of the JD(U)’s students’ wing squatted at the entrance of the airport terminal building in the morning. “For the first time ever, protestors tried to enter the terminal building. But the Central Industrial Security Force personnel stopped them. The entrance door was closed and the fliers entered the terminal through the exit gate,” said a source at Patna airport.

Locked at home

The citizens in general suffered. All business establishments were closed. Commercial vehicles were of roads. People were scared of using their own vehicles fearing backlash from bandh supporters.

The strike did not dish out a proper off-day either. Neither people could go out, nor they could enjoy cinema. All theatres were closed.

“It is better to close down than have to face the fury of bandh supporters,” said a cinema owner.

The fury

Any establishment open had to face the wrath of bandh enforcers. The JD(U) supporters ransacked a book stall at platform number one of Patna Junction. They flung newspapers and books.

The BJP supporters tried to break the windshield of a postal department van on its way to General Post Office. But its driver was smart enough to escape unhurt.

Tailpiece

Two ambulances of the medical cell of the JD(U) were used to enforce the bandh.

Spotting the ambulance at the Dakbungalow roundabout, a bystander said: “How can such a vehicle be used for a political rally? The JD(U) leaders should be ashamed of themselves. Just because they own the ambulance, they cannot use it for any purpose.”