Normal life in the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling district was paralysed on Tuesday as Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) enforced a second spell of indefinite bandh in the area to press for its demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.
Shops, markets, business establishments, banks and post offices were closed and vehicles remained off the roads after the bandh resumed from 6 pm on Monday after a five-day break.
The National highway 31A linking Sikkim's capital Gangtok with Siliguri passing through Kalimpong sub-division was blocked by GJM activists, virtually cutting off the Himalayan state from the rest of the country, officials said.
All state and central Government office also remained closed and the heritage Toy Train, a major tourist attraction, did not run. However, there were reports of normal work in tea gardens and schools and collages as these were kept outside the purview of the bandh.