Bandh throws life out of gear; rail, bus services hit

Petrol pumps, shops and commercial establishments remained closed too as bandh passed off peacefully

- HT Correspondents

AMRITSAR/JALANDHAR/FARIDKOT/KARNAL/SANGRUR: A complete shutdown was observed across Punjab throwing normal life out of gear on Monday during the nine-hour 'bandh' called by farm unions.

Farmer leaders claimed that rail operations in Punjab remained mostly suspended and buses and other vehicles also remained off the road. Shops and establishments downed shutters from 7 am-4 pm as the bandh passed off peacefully.

Petrol pumps were also shut, a senior farmer leader claimed.

The call for the statewide shutdown was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha who have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.

The bandh was also in support of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal (67) who has been on a fast-unto-death at Khanauri border protest site since November 26.

150 trains cancelled

The Northern Railways in a press release on Sunday said it had to cancel as many as 150 trains operating under Delhi, Ambala and Ferozepur divisions. The railways had partially cancelled seven trains, regulated 14 others, re-scheduled 13 trains, short-originated 15 trains and short-terminated 22 trains.

Officials at the Ambala division said that no train operated beyond Ambala Cantonment and the operations resumed after 4 pm.

"To assist affected travellers, additional counters for ticket refunds were arranged at key railway stations," railway officials added.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher in Amritsar said that emergency and other essential services were allowed to operate. He said those going to the airport or for a job interview or a wedding were also allowed to go.