Puducherry: A dawn to dusk bandh called by pro Tamil organisations was total and peaceful in Puducherry. Shops, business establishments, theatres, petrol bunks and even private transport didn’t function paralysing normal life in the state. Private schools declared holiday where government educational institutions and private colleges worked with low attendance. The government offices were functioning with thin attendance.
Tamil Nadu government buses and Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) buses started service in the state with police escort but later suspended the service as a student’s bus was stoned in Vazhudavur here. In similar incident a government owned bus was stoned by agitators in Moolakulam. About 1,000 volunteers of different organisations and political parties were arrested.
Not much outpatients: Friday’s bandh kept patients away from hospitals. Although most staff, including doctors and paramedics, worked, patient flow was poor, staff said. Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research hospital (Jipmer) reported less than 50 per cent of average patient flow. Tourists affected: Considerable inconvenience was caused to most of the tourists as the transport facilities were not available.
Many of them remained shut inside the hotel room or spent the whole day in beach or park. Many of the tourists depended the cycle rickshaw which were available, but in limited number, to enjoy the beauty of the heritage buildings.
