Bandh paralyses life in Seemandhra region

Vijayawada, July 31 : Normal life came to a halt in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions on Wednesday following a 48-hour bandh call given by different groups against the Congress-led UPA Government’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

All educational institutions, business and commercial establishments remained closed across the Seemandhra region. The State-run APSRTC and KSRTC have suspended their services in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts including Kadapa, Chittoor, Visakhapatnam and Krishna. However, there was no major impact on train services and although the traffic on national and State highways was comparatively thin.

The Samaikhyandhra activists held protests in several towns and took out rallies. Roads were blocked and the RTC was forced to cancel its services in several towns.

Meanwhile, the State Police has strengthened the security arrangements in all the three regions in the State. In addition to the local police, nearly 2,500 personnel of Central paramilitary forces have been deployed in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. INN