Bandh affects life in Paradip

Normal life was affected in the port town of Paradip and nearby Kujanga on Friday due to a bandh called by locals demanding a judicial probe into last month's cracker explosion which killed four people. Vehicular movement was disrupted and shops and business establishments remained shut during the shutdown called by Paradip-Kujanga Milita Gana Sangathan in protest against non-payment of compensation to the victims even a month after the incident that occurred on November 16.

Road communication between Paradip and Cuttack remained paralysed while train services to and from the port town were affected, police sources said.The protesters staged road blockade at several places by placing barriers and burning tyres. Schools and colleges were also closed in the area.

However, work in Paradip Port, Paradip Phosphates Ltd, IFFCO plants and other units continued as usual, sources said. At least eight persons, all members of a musical party, were critically injured when crackers were being carried in a mini truck burst near Kujanga near here in Jagatsinghpur district on November 16. Four of them identified as Dipuna Patra (12), Fakir Patra (32), Bijan Patra (38) and Kailash Jena (35) succumbed to injuries.

The crackers were being taken during a procession from Sandhapur to Kujanga when the mishap took place. The participants were bursting crackers and dancing to music when the blast took place in the mini truck, causing injuries to its occupants.