Siraha, August 22:

The bandh organised by different organisations crippled life in different parts of the country today. Tamang Mukti Morcha called a bandh demanding a Tamang autonomous province in the districts that have Tamang settlements, while Sanyukta Dalit Ganatantrik Morcha organised it placing different demands. Meanwhile, Madhesi Mukti Tigers called the five-day bandh from today.

Calling for boycott of the CA polls slated for November 22, the five-day bandh called by Madhesi Mukti Tigers affected life in Siraha. Transportation, educational institutions, business houses, factories remained shut.

A new outfit called CPN Tarai Integrated Party also called a bandh in Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari and

Sarlahi districts. The party said it organised the bandh calling for solidarity among the parties and organisations based in Madhes.

Long and short-route vehicles did not leave for outside from Udayapur district’s headquarter Gaighat, Katari and Beltar. However, the vehicles plied in the district. Sales and distribution of cements at the Udayapur cement factory came to a halt as trucks could not resume services due to the bandh.

In Janakpurdham, all government and private educational institutions were shut and all types of vehicles remained off the road. A few motorbikes were seen on the road, but government vehicles stayed off the roads. In Mahottari, hundreds of passengers were stranded on the road due to the bandh.

Long-distance transport came to a total halt along the East West Highway in Sarlahi. However, short-distance vehicles plied. Malangawa, the district headquarters of Sarlahi, was shut even as the bandh failed to affect Karmaiya, Nayaroad, Hariwan, Nawalpur, Lalbandi and Ranigunj.

In Saptari, both long and short-distance public transport came to a halt. Educational institutions, factories and medical stores remained open. The Madhesi Tigers’ cadres exploded bombs in different parts of the district headquarters on the eve of the bandh last evening.

Bazaars, shops, educational institutions in Bara’s district headquarters Kalaiya remained closed. No vehicles plied from Kalaiya. The bandh affected even the rural areas in Bara. It also crippled life in Parsa and Rautahat. The highway in Chitwan district wore a deserted look since this morning and bazaar in urban areas were completely shut. Only rickshaws were seen on the road at main urban areas after the bandh supporters intercepted motorcyclists. The classes in educational institutions were disrupted though a few visitors were seen at the government offices.

In Chitwan, the bandh was relaxed from 5:00 pm, said president of Tamang Mukti Morcha Chitwan Birendra Tamang. All shops, factories, schools and vehicles were closed in Ramechhap. In Dolakha all sorts of vehicles remained off the road.

Our correspondent in Pokhara, quoting a source at the ticket counter of Prithvi Highway bus operators’ committee at the Pokhara bus park, reported that no passenger bus left for other parts of the country from here today. However, vehicles were plying within Pokhara.