Biratnagar, August 12:

Life in the eastern region remained affected today as well due to the bandh called by transport workers to protest the killing of their colleague.

No vehicles on long and short routes plied from Biratnagar. The bandh organisers vandalised a Kakarvitta-bound bus from Kathmandu in Siraha’s Lahan this morning.

More than five vehicles were also vandalised in Sunsari and Dhankuta districts.

The indefinite strike was called after an unidentified armed gang killed Krishna Khawas, a night bus driver of Durgapur in Jhapa, in Lalbandi of Sarlahi district five days ago.

In Itahari, the agitators vandalised eight buses and one truck for defying the bandh.

Hundreds of passengers and vehicles were stranded on the road.

The transport workers and entrepreneurs organised a sit-in in Itahari’s main chowk, barring the vehicles from plying.

The agitators also vandalised three vehicles in Dhankuta. Vehicles operating on Dhankuta-Dharan road on Koshi Highway and bound for various hilly destinations also stayed off the road.

According to another report, hundreds of passengers coming from Indian towns through Kakarvitta entry point were stranded there.

The bandh has caused food shortage in the eastern cities. Supply of petroleum products has also been affected and illegal import of fuel from Indian markets is on the rise.

Meanwhile, the agitators declined to sit for talks with the Regional Administration Office, Dhankuta.

Central president of Nepal Free Transport Workers’ Organisation Motiraj Sunuwar said since the agreements reached with the local administration were not implemented in the past, they would hold dialogue only with the Home Ministry.