Industry works to schedule

Bhubaneswar: Monday's Bharat Bandh called by the Congress and the Left parties to protest against the price rise of petroleum products passed off peacefully across the state.

In Paradip, a port trust official said: "Cargo handling was normal on Monday. However, the bandh affected transportation of unloaded cargoes."

The bandh did not have any impact on Paradip refinery. "The daily attendance of employees and workers remained affected," said Manjushree Singh, senior manager, administration and welfare, Paradip refinery project. However goods transportation by rail and road was affected, she said.

In Rourkela, all vehicles were stopped while shops, schools, colleges, banks and other organisations remained closed. Attendance in Rourlela Steel Plant was nearly 100 per cent and production was not hampered.

In Balangir, the bandh had its impact with all government and private offices, banks and insurance companies remaining closed. Commuters faced difficulties as vehicular traffic did not ply and shops remained closed.

Life in Jajpur was disrupted as movement of vehicles came to a grinding halt in the entire district. Train services were affected in the district with Congress and Left activists squatting on rail tracks.

Dhenkanal showed its total support to the bandh. "There was no violence anywhere in the district," said deputy inspector general of north central range Narasingh Bhol. Buses in Angul and elsewhere kept off the roads. However, the coalmines at Talcher remained shut due to bandh.

Bandh in Balasore was almost total with most shops and business establishments remainingclosed.