KOZHIKODE: The late night hartal call by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit normal life in the district on Sunday. Railway passengers were stranded for hours at various stations. Tourists who reached the city had a harrowing time as cabs stayed off the road till 6 p.m.
While public and private transport remained suspended, convoy services were operated to select locations to help stranded passengers.
As last-minute postponement was impractical, several families were forced to go ahead with wedding receptions, with the guests finding it difficult to make it to the venues.
J. Hemant, a Delhi-based IT employee who arrived in the city on Sunday morning, said he was unaware of the hartal. “No taxi drivers were willing to help. I was on my way to Wayanad,” he said.
As the hartal call came late, several residents could not make essential purchases. Moreover, fuel shortage caused gross inconvenience to motorists.
Though the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti had announced that they would not cooperate with flash hartal calls, shopping malls, hotels, and wayside eateries remained closed till evening.
Those who turned up for a job fest organised by the Government IT Park too found it difficult to reach the venue in time.
The Cyber Park authorities said a last-minute postponement of the event was impossible as around 7,500 candidates had already set out for the interview.
There was good turnout, with around 3,500 candidates attending the event, IT Park officials said.
Although no major incidents were reported from the district, BJP and CPI(M) workers came face to face in some areas during protest marches. A BJP worker from Azhiyoor suffered minor injuries in a clash. He was admitted to a hospital in Thalassery.
