Bharat Bandh: Nation-wide two-day trade union strike hits banking, transport services

Nation-wide strike hit banking and transport sector day two of nationwide strike. While banking services were today paralysed with ATMs running out of cash in metro cities and public transport disrupted during the Central trade unions sponsored strike which evoked a mixed response in most states barring Kerala where normal life was hit. Life remained normal in West Bengal though banking services were crippled with nationalised and private banks closed and ATMs remaining non-functional. Transport services were normal and shops, markets and business establishments opened in the state. In the national capital, commuters faced hardships for the second consecutive day as majority of auto-rickshaws and taxis stayed off the road in support of the strike. Various industrial units and banks either remained closed or witnessed thin attendance while markets and commercial areas were open. In Maharashtra, majority of ATMs dried up in the financial capital Mumbai. "A majority of ATMs have dried up while (bank) branches are shut. Additionally, there has not been any cheque clearing as personnel from RBI too joined the strike. It will take at least 2-3 working days to clear the backlog for banks", said All India Bank Employees Association Vice President Vishwas Utagi. Suburban railway, the city's life line, functioned normally and road traffic remained unaffected.