Live: Buses stay off roads, bandh near total in Bengaluru
Various Kannada organisations that have come together under the banner of ‘Kannada Okkoota’, have called for a State-wide bandh on Saturday to pressurise the State government to take up the Mekedatu Drinking Water project, among various other demands.
2.30 p.m. No Airport buses operating. KSRTC bus stand wears a deserted look. Prepaid taxi stand at city railway station closed.
2.15 p.m. Those
travelling to railway stations are going for cabs, but there are not
enough cabs as drivers do not want to risk damage to vehicles. There is
also the fear of running out of petrol, as bunks are closed. EasyCabs
did only seven trips since midnight as they don't have drivers. GPS
shows no easy cab near station. OlaCabs not working, and autorickshaws
overcharging. Residents are taking trains to places like Tiruvannamalai
and Anantapur as there are no buses.
1.52 p.m. Procession reaches Freedom Park. Protesters raise anti-Tamil Nadu slogans.
1.31 p.m. A reader says the bandh reminds him of the good old days when the city's roads were peaceful.
1.25 p.m. (MYSURU) Normal
life in Mysuru and surrounding regions of the Cauvery basin of the
State was affected on Saturday as the bandh call given by pro-Kannada
organisations in support of the Mekedatu project, was total. The bandh
was supported by farmers, the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
students and other organisations. Commercial establishments in the heart
of the city including K.R.Circle, Devaraja Urs Road, and Dhanavantri
Road remained shut since morning.
1.15 p.m. KG Road blocked due to procession. Pic by Mohit M. Rao
Over
350 civil defence personnel posted in the city. 35 of them aided
security when 1,500 people gathered at Town Hall. Procession now near
Cauvery Bhavan
1.00 p.m. Police presence at
most markets. Few road side fruit sellers still out. City civil court
functioning. No traffic at all on Nrupatunga Road, K.G. Road, Mysore
Road, Hudson Circle. Even traffic lights have been switched off.
12.50 p.m. A look at why the Karnataka bandh may end up being ignored in north Karnataka districts http://thne.ws/1b6GlrP
12.43 p.m. A reader wonders if the bandh is an excuse to help census enumerators:
12.31 p.m. (BIDAR) Karnataka
bandh called by several pro-Kannada organisations on Saturday received a
lukewarm response in Bidar. Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike,
Jai Karnataka, Kannadigara Balaga and other organisations took out a
rally condemning Tamil Nadu for opposing the Mekedatu project.
12.25 p.m.
Patient inflow in government hospitals less than 60 per cent. Although
functioning is as usual, but doctors say most patients with scheduled
appointments did not turn up.
12.15 p.m. (DAKSHINA KANNADA, UDUPI) There
was no bandh in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi on Saturday and life was
normal in the two districts. In a statement posted on a social
networking mobile app, president of Dakshina Kannada unit of Karnataka
Rakshana Vedike Annayya Kulal alleged that activists from Southern
region had not come to their support during their agitation against the
project to divert River Netravathi, and hence they would not do so with
respect to the Mekedatu issue. "We have made this clear to our leaders.
We will any how lend our moral support," he said.
11:57 Malleswaram remains closed except for pharmaceutical shops. Traffic lights too not working.
11:51 Theatres were also closed today. Photo of the locked Uma Talkies at Chamarjpet.
11.45
No BMTC buses on the roads but plenty of private vehicles in
Padmanabhanagar, BSK 3rd stage, and 2nd stage. Group of 10-15 persons
seen forcing down shutters of shop in TR Nagar main market.
11:42 Protesters gather at Town Hall. Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
11:30 Usually busy roads are now empty because of bandh. A view of a street in Jayanagar.
10:53 Public-sector banks are open, but very few customers were seen.
10:45 Hopcoms, milk booths and grocery shops are open.
09.50 Numerous members of Lorry drivers' association gathered in front of Town Hall now.
09:41
More than 300 rowdy elements have been taken into preventive custody in
the city More than 300 rowdy elements have been taken into preventive
custody in the city
09:35 Additional
Commissioner Alok Kumar has said that in cases of emergency, police
vehicles will be deployed to help people stranded in the city. This will
cater to the old and needy, he said.
09:33
Two mega rallies planned. Sa. Ra. Govind, president Dr Rajkumar Fans'
Association to lead a protest rally from Majestic to Town Hall at 10 am.
This rally to merge in another rally from town hall to freedom park to
be led by Vatal Nagaraj.
09:31 There have been
flash protests across the city by pro Kannada groups. Tyres have been
burnt. Rasta roko protests by pro Kannada groups on Mysore Road,
Townhall, Mysore Bank circle, Majestic and other places. Roads wear a
deserted look as there is little traffic.
09:29 No untoward incident reported in the city till now. Commissioner M.N. Reddi and all senior officials patrolling city.
09:27 Activists of pro-Kannada groups roaming on the streets in bikes, forcing shutters down.
09:26
BMTC and KSRTC bus services have been hit. Very few buses on the
street. Hotels and theatres have shut down operations. Autorickshaws are
not running.
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