Southern districts see protests, sparse traffic

Flash strike affects those who came to temples on Vrishchikam 1 in Kollam

KSRTC staff engaged in fishing after a flash hartal forced stoppage of bus services in Alappuzha on Saturday.

Though there was normal traffic and many business outlets were open in early hours of Saturday in Kollam, public transport came to a standstill soon during the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Hindu Aikya Vedi on Saturday.

KSRTC buses, taxis and autorickshaws stopped plying around 10 a.m., leaving many stranded.

The KSRTC, which usually reduces the number of services from its depots on such situations, decided to stay off the road. Passengers who reached the KSRTC stand in the morning were stuck as they could not their continue their journey or return home.

“We reached here around 5 a.m. to go to Thiruvananthapuram and did not know about the hartal,” said Beatrice, a passenger.

Saturday being Vrishchikam 1, many who were in the city for temple visits early in the morning had a hard time with most private buses suddenly stopping services. With nearly all restaurants and even small eateries downing their shutters, it was all the more difficult for the stranded people.

A couple of incidents of hartal supporters blocking vehicles were reported from Kottarakara and Keralapuram.

Tourism affected

In Alappuzha district, the hartal was total with shops and commercial establishments remaining shut. The attendance at government offices was considerably low. In the morning, hartal supporters blocked roads and conducted protest marches at many places. Both, the KSRTC and private buses stayed off road. Autorickshaws and taxis also joined the flash strike giving a harrowing time for commuters and tourists. The State Water Transport Department was forced to halt all services in the district following protests. In Alappuzha town, a few private vehicles were out on the roads. The tourism sector was hit hard by hartal. Only a handful of houseboats conducted services.

Many marches

In Pathanamthitta district, hartal supporters staged protest marches at Pathanamthitta town, Kozhencherry, Thiruvalla, Adoor, Mallappally, Pandalam, Ranni, and Konni. Shops and business establishments, including banks, remained close. The KSRTC operated only Sabarimala special services from its depots. Private buses kept off the road.