Chandigarh, Feb 23 (Agencies): Curfew remained in force in Hissar, Hansi and Bhiwani towns on Tuesday but was relaxed briefly in Rohtak, the worst-hit district, to allow people to buy essential items.

However, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who attempted to meet the people at Rohtak town, was heckled by non-Jats whose property and businesses had been vandalised during the agitation by Jats demanding OBC or Other Backward Classes status for reservation in government jobs and colleges.

There was some respite for commuters as Jat protesters were lifting the road and rail blockades they had set up. The agitation has so far claimed 19 lives.

Disruption has been huge, with at least 850 trains cancelled, 500 factories closed and business losses estimated at as much as Rs 34,000 crore by an industry body. India's largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki, shut two factories at the weekend because its supply of components was disrupted.

Traffic had resumed on the arterial Ambala-Delhi Highway up to Panipat and officials expect the situation to improve in Sonipat on the border of Delhi to allow traffic on the last stretch to the national capital.

The situation remained tense in Jat dominated areas such as Rohtak and Sonipat.

In Rohtak town, Khattar faced black flags and an angry crowd that raised slogans against the police and demanded action against looters.

The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by ministers Abhimanyu and O.P. Dhankar and Chief Secretary D.S. Dhesi, said strict action would be taken against those who had indulged in arson, and also against government and police officers who had not performed thei duty.

Khattar was to attend a meeting later in the day of the high-power committee set up the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The committee, headed by a senior Union minister, K. Venkaiah Naidu, is to study the demand of Jats for quotas in central jobs.