Bandh affects life in Bolangir

Bolangir (Orissa), Feb 15 (PTI) Normal life wasdisrupted in this western Orissa town today during a bandhcalled by the students wing of Congress demanding a by-passroad for the national highway passing through the town.

Beneficiaries of several schemes like old age anddisabled pension were also deprived of drawing money in viewof the shutdown, official sources said.

The student Congress claim that road accidents aretaking place in Bolangir town frequently as a large number ofheavy vehicles are plying through the town.

National Highway 26 connecting Boriguma and Baragarhand NH 57 connecting Bolangir and Khurdha are passing throughthe town. A girl student of Rajendra college was killed lastweek when a private bus ran over her on Bolangir-Patanagarhroad near Mission play ground.

State and central government offices including postoffice, banks, insurance offices remained closed during thebandh. Business establishments also downed their shutter.

Private and state-owned buses were also off the road,while schools and colleges remained closed.

As the state government fixed 15th of every month fordisbursement of old age, widow, disabled, Madhubabu pensionforHIV/Aids patients and other schemes, the beneficiariesfailed to draw money due to the bandh.

As government officials could not go to their officesthese pension could not be disbursed.