Strike affects normal life in Assam

Normal life was hit in Assam today in the wake of the countrywide trade unions' strike against price rise with markets and business establishments remaining closed and public transport off the roads.

Normal life was hit in Assam on Tuesday in the wake of the countrywide trade unions' strike against price rise with markets and business establishments remaining closed and public transport off the roads.

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Movement of trains were halted for about an hour by trade union organisations at Rangia, Tihu and Rangapara in lower Assam, but later plied as usual, Northeast Frontier Railway officials told PTI.

Air India sources said almost all their flights operated today, while Kingfisher, Spice and Jet Airways cancelled all their flights to Kolkata though those to and from Delhi operated.

Transport operators kept off the road across the state paralysing movement of vehicles. In Guwahati no private city and long distance bus plied, officials said.

Most educational institutions here remained closed due to the near absence of public transport. Shops, markets and other commercial establishments in the state were mostly closed.

There was, however, no report of any untoward incident from any part of the state so far, they said.

Work in most tea gardens were affected as the trade unions supported the strike call, sources said.

Drilling and production operations of ONGC and GAIL and OIL in Upper Assam were unaffected by the strike call even as work by the daily wage labourers and some administrative offices were affected, official said.