By NNN-PTI,
Kolkata : Train services were disrupted and normal life was hit in West Bengal today due to a 12-hour bandh (strike) called by the Trinamool Congress and SUCI to protest against price rise and the alleged attack on party leader Mamata Banerjee.
Railway sources here said that train services in both Howrah and Sealdah divisions were disrupted after bandh supporters blocked movement of trains at different stations.
However, local trains ran smoothly on the Howrah-Baruipur, Howrah-Konnnagar and Bandel-Naihati sections, the sources said.
The Howrah-Ranchi Shatabdi Express was cancelled and the Howrah-Dhanbad Black Diamond Express, which left Howrah in the morning, was stopped at Bally station.
Circular rail services were also hit by the bandh, the sources said.
Metro railway was functioning normally.
Roads in the metropolis wore a deserted look with only some buses and taxis plying.
Flight operation at the N S C Bose International Airport was normal with 16 flights taking off in the morning, airport sources said.
Most of the shops and markets in and around the city were closed.
There were reports of a few buses being damaged by bandh supporters. However, there was no official confirmation of the same.
The bandh call was initially given to protest against the spiralling prices of food items but later issues like alleged terror by CPI(M) cadres ahead of next month’s panchayat (village) election and the alleged attack on Banerjee were added.