Guwahati/Agartala: The 31st Bharat Bandh, spearheaded by a alliance of trade unions, farmer organisations, and civil society groups across India, triggered important commotions in several states on Wednesday.
Though, Guwahati, the gateway to the Northeast, and neighbouring Tripura sustained mainly unaffected by the nationwide strike.
In Guwahati, normal life continued with minimal disruptions. The city saw partial impact from a simultaneous 24-hour "chakka bandh" (transport strike) called by local drivers’ unions beginning at 5 AM.
While uneven sit-in protests were reported at major influences such as Khanapara, Narengi, and near Guwahati Club, there were no major incidents of violence or lengthy traffic snarls.
The Assam-based driver unions, while stating solidarity with the Bharat Bandh, primarily emphasised regional complaints, including pressures for better wages, measured fuel prices, and improved safety for transport workers.
This led to temporary turbulences in the movement of buses, taxis, and commercial trucks during the early hours.
But, private vehicles, app-based cab services, and two-wheelers continued to operate across the city.
Key services in Guwahati such as banks, post offices, government institutions, educational establishments, and railways—functioned without disturbance.
Offices witnessed usual attendance, schools and colleges conducted regular classes, and retail markets sustained open through the day.
Commercial centers including Paltan Bazar, GS Road, and Dispur reported steady footfall, indicating public sureness and normality.
The Bharat Bandh, which called for the repeal of labour codes, protested against the privatisation of public sector activities, and required better social security for workers, reverberated in a limited urban and rural pouches of Assam.
Though, Guwahati remained insulated from the large-scale protests seen in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab. Even Guwahati Railway Station reported no rare delays or cancellations, with security personnel maintaining strict vigil across transit points.
Meanwhile, varying replies were observed in other districts of Assam. Biswanath district saw more visible participation, with road blockades and protest marches led by trade unions and farmer groups. On the other hand, towns like Jorhat and Silchar mirrored Guwahati’s response, remaining mostly unaffected.
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Authorities had issued precautionary advisories ahead of the strike and stepped up police deployment near sensitive areas. Ambulance and emergency services were kept out of the bandh’s purview to safeguard incessant healthcare support.
Limited city buses were run by the state transport department on major ways to ease commuter movement.
In neighbouring Tripura, the situation remained equally calm. Since early morning, goods-laden trucks continued to enter the state via the Churaibari check post on the Assam-Tripura border without hindrance. Markets operated as usual, and no reports of protest-related disruptions were received from any part of the state.
Finally, while the Bharat Bandh drew attention to significant national issues, its impact in the Northeast chiefly in Guwahati and Tripura was unimportant.
The day passed off quietly, with daily life, commerce, and public services largely unaffected, influence a stark contrast to the closures witnessed away in the country.
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