General Strike grinds Nepal to halt

THT ONLINE
KATHMANDU: The nation-wide bandh enforced by the 33 political parties including the CPN-Maoist has brought normal life to a halt across the country from early morning.

Normal life across the nation including the Capital has come to a standstill on Sunday following the bandh enforced by agitating parties. The bandh is called in to topple the election government led by Khil Raj Regmi, and also demanding to form a government under political leadership.

It is reported that cadres of the CPN-Maoist and fringe parties are thronging the major cities, streets and highways enforcing the general strike.

Left-right-left: Commuters walking as there is no provision of transport due to bandh on Sunday at Babarmahal. Photo: Mahendra Joshi.

Our demands: Banner showing the eight-point demands of agitating parties put up on the side of a road at Chabahil during bandh on Sunday. Photo: Keshav P Koirala

There are various exams in different faclilites of Bachelor’s level and Master’s level from Tribhuvan University and Purbanchal University on the bandh day. The students are heading towards exam centres unsure whether the exam will take place or not.

Waving flag: Protestors flag fluttering to make their presence felt during bandh as seen from the windshield of a press van at Kupondole. Photo: Mahendra Joshi
Due to the bandh, educational institutions, shops, and industries remained closed in the districts. No vehicles for long and short distances were found plying on the highways and inner roads.

Bikers' monopoly: A foreigner cycles in an empty street in Chabahil on Sunday, April 7, 2013. Vehicles remained off the road due to the general shutdown imposed by 33 parties in Kathmandu on Sunday. Photo: Keshav P. Koirala
Hundreds of passengers have been affected, with no vehicles plying the Araniko Highway and the Banepa-Sindhuli-Bardibas route.

However, ambulances, vehicles of police, press, human rights and tourists are operating freely.

Irony of duty: A policeman perfoming his duty whereas a tourist is busy clicking pictures behind him during bandh at Thapathali. Photo: Mahendra Joshi

Details of bandh in different locations

Birgunj (Parsa): A loaded truck ( Na 3 Kha 2513) is torched by the cadres of CPN-Maoist at 10:15 in Birgunj. The co-driver of the truck Bonu Hawari sustained minor injuries during the arson.
“We set the truck ablaze because they tried to defy our party’s bandh," District co-secretary P.L. Shrestha of CPN-Maoist said.
The injured is being treated at Narayani Central Hospital, according to our correspondent Ravi Dahal.

Locked city: A local reading newspaper as the city appears to be totally shut in Birgunj during bandh. Photo by: Ram Sarraf.
The strike has halted the operation of long route vehicles to and from Birgunj. However, short route vehicles such as three-wheeler, rickshaw and cart are in operation without interruption.
Birgunj also saw closure of educational institutions due to shutdown.
Similarly, the strike has also affected normal life in Ilam, Siraha, Jhapa, panchthar, Taplejung, and Kanchanpur, among other parts of the country.

No restriction: A disbaled person in wheelchair being helped to get to his destination during bandh at Tripureshwor. Photo: Mahendra Joshi
Kirtipur: All the educational institutions operated in Kirtipur area in the morning shift remained closed and the transport services on the route have also been brought to a complete halt. Likewise, market areas have also been affected due to shutdown.

Footbal fever: Bandh enforcers playing soccer amidst the protest on the non vechicluar roads of Nepalgunj. Photo: RSS
Besides,the shutdown has troubled the students attending exams of Bachelor's Degree Second Year under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences scheduled for today as per the examinations schedule set by the TU.

Rushing to get in: A vechicle loaded with VIPs about to get inside Singadarbar from south gate during bandh. Photo: Mahendra Joshi.
Hetauda: The nationwide strike called by the fringe parties has affected Makawanpur district.
The long-route vehicles from Hetauda to Kathmandu including other areas have been brought to complete standstill since 5.00 am this morning while local transport service has also been disrupted.
The industries and educational institutions here have also been closed since early this morning.
However, no untoward incidents have taken place so far due to shutdown, said the district police.

Against syndicate: Party cadres of CPN-M along with 33 fringe parties chanting anti-governement slogans, and carrying on a rally to make the bandh successful at Nepalgunj