RailEnquiry

SAMBALPUR: Train and bus services were hit in western Odisha on Thursday following the bandh call by lawyers. The Western Odisha All Bars Association (WOABA) gave the call demanding a high court bench in western Odisha. Three trains were cancelled in Sambalpur division. These are Puri Intercity, Rayagada intercity and Sambalpur-Jharsuguda passenger, all originating from Sambalpur. These trains that return to Sambalpur in the evening were also cancelled. Railway sources said the Titilagarh-Howraw Ispat Express and Jagadalpur-Howrah Sambaleswari Express were also cancelled half way and returned to their originating stations. The Jasvantpur-Hatia and Bhubaneswar-Kurla were detained. Lawyers, members of political parties and general public picketed on national highways from early in the morning despite the rain. Even there was no movement of two-wheelers. The agitators burnt tyres on the roads. Government offices, banks, financial institutions, markets places and petrol pumps remained shut.

The bandh was total in Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Sonepur, Nuapara and Bargarh. But there was no impact in Balangir, Bhawanipatna and Rourkela as the lawyers have started their own agitation demanding benches at their respective places disassociating themselves from the WOALA.

"The bandh was successful because of people's support. Even all political parties have supported it. The government should take immediate steps to fulfill our demand understanding the feelings of people of the region," convener of CAC Ashok Dash said.