Bandh hits normal life in Bhadrachalam for third day

Bhadrachalam: Normal life in most parts of Bhadrachalam division was affected for the third day on Sunday. The Joint Action Committee of all parties, especially the pro-Telangana organisations, gave a call for 72-hour bandh in the town on Friday. Leaders of the parties have been demanding that the Bhadrachalam revenue division be continued in Telangana region. They are strongly opposing the move to shift the division to Seemandhra region.

The owners of shops, cinema halls and other business establishments downed their shutters in the temple town as a mark of protest against the reported move to merge the Bhadrachalam division with East Godavari district. The town wore a deserted look for the third day in a row.

However, the pilgrim turnout picked up on Sunday due to Karthikamasam festival. Some services of APSRTC were restored due to demand from devotees in view of the Karthika Pournami festival and with police escort.

Members of the JACs of doctors, BSNL employees, Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Federation (APTF) and Government employees launched relay hunger strike with the demand that Bhadrachalam division be retained in Telangana region.

The RTC management suspended 118 services in eight mandals of the division for the past three days.

RTC officials maintained that the corporation had incurred a loss of about Rs 50 lakhs due to bandh.