Siraha, January 14:

Life remained crippled today in different districts of the Terai region on the third day of the bandh called by the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, led by Jaykrishna Goit, to demand an independent federal Terai state.

The bandh affected the markets, educational institutions, factories, transportation and commercial houses in the region. Except for Press vehicles, all other vehicles remained off the road.

The area police Mirchaiya and Lahan today escorted 47 vehicles that came from the west to their destination today, police said. The atmosphere was generally peaceful in the district today, the Siraha district police office said.

In Saptari district, main markets remained shut and transportation remained at a halt. Bara district was also affected on the last day of the Terai bandh. Almost all shops were closed in Ganjbhawanipur, Bariyapur, Simraungarh including Bara’s district headquarters Kalaiya. A few rickshaws, horse-carts and motorcycles were seen on the Kalaiya-Birgunj road sections.

East West Highway, Pathlaiya-Birgunj road section and the Pathlaiya-Hetauda road along the Tribhuvan Highway were deserted. All educational institutions in Kalaiya were closed. There were very few visitors to the offices due to the bandh.

In Rautahat district, no vehicle plied on the East West Mahendra Highway and educational institutions in the district stayed shut. Shops also were closed in the district headquarters Gaur, including the rural areas of Gangapipara, Samanpur, Garuda Chandranigahpur and Katahariya.

The bandh was generally peaceful, said the Rautahat district police office. Meanwhile, hundreds of travellers are stranded due to the bandh, police said.

The bandh was not so effective today in Birgunj. Almost all shops in the city areas were open. More light vehicles, rickshaws and motorbikes were seen on the roads.