Normal life hit by Assam bandh against serial blasts

In Moran, under Dibrugarh district, picketeers attempted to block the railway tracks to stop movement of trains, while, two goods trucks were damaged at Jugdal near Sonapur in Kamrup district, the sources said.

Meanwhile, markets, shops and banks kept their shutters down and educational institutions and offices remained closed.

All vehicles, including long distance and city buses, cars, auto-rickshaws kept off the roads, except the ones specially operated by the Greater Guwahati Bus Association to hospitals where the blast injured are admitted.

Flights and trains operated as usual, the sources said.

Attendance in the secretariat here and district deputy commissioners offices was thin as the people could not reach their work places due to absence of public transport.

Several picketeers were rounded up from across the state for attempting to enforce closure of markets, block roads and train tracks, the sources added.

AASU had earlier called a 24-hour bandh on Monday but changed it to an 11-hour one to avoid inconvenience to the injured and their family members.

Stating that all essential services were exempted from the purview of the bandh, AASU General Secretary Tapan Gogoi said the students’ body had decided to reduce the bandh period in view of the inconvenience faced by the family members of those injured in commuting to the hospitals.

”Moreover, we have directed our members to guide and help all relatives going to the hospital and have also set up a special cell to help victims in all possible ways”, he said.

The AASU members have also been directed to ensure that there was no untoward incident and the bandh is imposed peacefully, he added.

The Greater Guwahati Bus Association has also decided to ply the buses from different parts of the city to the hospital where the injured are undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in view of Monday’s bandh and a strict vigil is being maintained in the vulnerable areas.