Bhubaneswar, Jan. 21: Hundred of vehicles remained stranded on the Sambalpur-Raipur national highway (NH-6) at Burla for more than two hours as a group of people sat on a dhrana demanding permission to organise a book fair instead of a cultural festival.

The Burla Mahotsava is held every year from January 23 to 26 at the Burla High School ground. However, there has recently been a split in the committee that organises the festival. One faction, led by Prasanna Sahu, wants to organise a book fair at the same venue during the same period.

Sensing trouble in the school campus, the headmaster of Burla High School sought the help of local police and lodged a complaint. However, the organising committee headed by Narayan Chandra Pati moved high court seeking a direction that they should be allowed to organise the Burla Mahahotsava” festival on the school premises from January 23.