Sambalpur/Rourkela, Aug. 26: The strike called by the Koshal State Co-ordination Committee demanding a separate state consisting of 10 districts of west Odisha evoked mixed response in Sambalpur and its adjoining districts today.

Sambalpur, the political nerve centre of west Odisha ignored the strike call, while its impact was felt in Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts.

Life was not affected in any big manner in Sambalpur as markets, educational and financial institutions, government offices and courts remained open. Vehicular movement was also normal in the city. The impact of the strike was not significant in Rourkela city either. But in Bargarh and Jharsuguda, the scenario was just the opposite. Along with educational and financial institutions, even state and central government offices were closed there.

Though the committee had appealed to the people of west Odisha to observe the strike to support their statehood demand, many social and cultural organisations, including the Hirakhanda Samukhya, Sambalpuri Bhasha Sanskruti Parishad, Sambalpur Bar Association and the Bharati Samaj, urged the residents not to support the shutdown.

Senior citizens, members of various social organisations, artists and litterateurs of Sambalpur even distributed leaflets among the people requesting them to abstain from observing the strike.

Some strike supporters tried to stop movement of trains at Sambalpur Road railway station this morning. But, they faced stiff opposition from local residents.