On the first day of the 48- hour ‘Mahabandh’ demanding a permanent Bench of High Court in western Odisha, life was virtually paralysed in several districts of the region on Thursday.

The ordeals of the people stranded in the railway stations at Sambalpur, Sambalpur Road and Sambalpur City knew no bounds amidst scarcity of food and water.

However, different social organisations, including Swaschha, Sambala, Social Star Club, etc., came to the rescue of the passengers by providing them food, water, biscuit and milk to the children. Even the Bar Association also provided food at some places.

The lawyers had declared earlier about the 48 -hour Mahabandh on November 29 and 30. It was expected that some solution will come out before it. Sambalpur Collector Samarth Verma also informed that the district administration was in continuous touch with the CM office and the Government to find out a solution. But nothing of that sort happened.

Finally, as per the earlier plans and programmes, the lawyers on Thursday began the Mahabandh resulting in total closure of all offices and also modes of communications.

It was further seen that people cutting across party line joined the lawyers’ stir to support the cause realizing the need of a High Court bench as Sambalpur is the headquarters of western Odisha.

Sambalpur MLA Dr Raseswari Panigrahi also joined the agitation in Sambalpur station to extend support of her party.

The lawyers were seen picketing in all important entry points of the city to halt movements of the heavy vehicles. The result being, hundreds of vehicle and mainly trucks were found stranded on road side facing all odds. The movement of the trains was also obstructed at all the three stations of the city following which a good number of trains were cancelled or diverted.

There was tension in the City Station for some time. Irate passengers of Puri-Indore express demanded before the station manager to facilitate movement of the train for which there was an unpleasant situation. “But police managed to tackle to situation,” informed the SP (Railway) Ajay Pratap Swain who camped at Sambalpur leaving his Rourkela headquarters.

Massive police forces were deployed in all places of the district to prevent any untoward situation.

“Except a few sporadic incidents, the bandh was almost peaceful,” informed police. Situation in Jharauguda, Deogarh and Sundargarh was also almost the same with offices and educational institutions remaining closed for the whole day. But train communication was quite normal in Jharsuguda, sources said.

However,  Balangir, Kalahandi and Rourkela city remained away from the bandh as they are demanding High Court Bench in their respective places instead of Sambalpur.

“Today’s bandh reflects the public resentment and their wholehearted support for the High Court Bench. If the Governments at the Centre and the State still keep silent, we will go for further drastic step like total economic blockade,” warned Sambalpur District Bar Association president Bijitendriya Pradhan.