Few hundred crores lost following 48-hour economic blockade

Ranchi, June 28 (UNI) Jharkhand incurred a loss of about Rs 300 crore following the CPI(Maoist)-sponsored 48-hour economic blockade against SEZs which ended last midnight.

The blockade brought a grinding halt to the trade activities in mines and mineral sectors besides causing immense damage to railway properties.

Central Coalfields Limited could only despatch less than 18,000 tonnes of coal against its usual 67,000 tonnes, official sources said adding mining and transport industry suffered more than Rs 100 crore.

Like earlier occasions the naxals this time also targetted railway properties.

Yesterday, the maoists laid siege to a Hatiya-Rourkela railway zone and brought the movement of trains to a virtual halt for hours.

In Chatra, the CPI (Maoist) activists detonated a powerful landmine blowing up a bridge under Hantarganj police station.

On the first day, the ultras blew up a goods train and railway tracks at several places.

The movement of vehicles on roads also was severely affected during the blockade.

UNI