KOLKATA: Normal life across West Bengal was paralysed as Left parties, providing outside support to the UPA government, enforced a 12-hour statewide bandh from 6 am on Thursday to protest against fuel price hike.

The bandh affected traffic movement as almost all vehicles went off the roads. Shops, markets and educational institutions remained closed.

City streets wore a deserted look due to the bandh coupled with a light drizzle in the morning.

The bandh is so far peaceful, IGP (law and order) Raj Kanojia said.

Train and air services were also affected. Bandh supporters squatted on railway tracks in different parts of the state, Kanojia said. ( Watch )

Various airlines suspended their operations of outgoing flights from Kolkata during the 12-hour bandh period on Thursday.

Till 7 am, 23 flights belonging to various airlines left Kolkata for their destinations in different parts of the country, airport sources said.

Air India’s flight to Kathmandu was cancelled. Air India sources said they would operate combined flights from here to all metro cities in the country after the bandh ends in the evening.

Jet Airways said its flights would operate to and from Kolkata in the evening.

To control overcrowding at lounges in the airport, entry of visitors has been banned during the bandh period.

Left Front Chairman Biman Bose said the Centre has forced the decision to call the bandh on the Left.

Trinamool Congress also called a 12-hour bandh on Friday on the same issue.

Normal life paralysed in Tripura

AGARTALA: Normal life was hit across Tripura on Thursday in a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the ruling Left Front in protest against the hike in the price of petroleum products.

None of the offices in the state registered any attendance. Shops and markets were closed and vehicles did not ply on the roads.

Schools and colleges were closed and Tripura University cancelled the examinations scheduled for Thursday.

No flights took off or landed at the Agartala airport, official sources said.

No untoward incident was registered in any of the police stations.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in his reaction to the hike said it was unfortunate and would lead to increase in the prices of essential commodities.

Fuel price hike: Bandh hits life in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The dawn-to-dusk bandh against petroleum price hike, called by the ruling LDF and BJP separately, hit normal life across Kerala Thursday.

Early reports said buses were off the road and shops remained closed.

Two-wheelers and private vehicles were, however, plying. No violence was reported from anywhere.