APNGOs strike paralyses Seemandhra region

The entire administration of Andhra Pradesh came to a standstill on Tuesday with nearly four lakh government employees joining the indefinite strike call given by the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers Association from Monday midnight in protest against the Centre's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana State.

The extension of support by several government and non-government associations worsened the situation especially in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts. More than 12,000 buses of 123 depots remained off road after 6,600 RTC employees joined the strike. They include 3,300 buses in 32 depots of Vijayawada division and 1,356 buses of 14 depots of Krishna Division.

The functioning of State Secretariat and other government offices was badly hit due to the indefinite strike.

The petrol bunks too remained closed following a 24-hour bandh call given by the Seemandhra Petrol Bunk Owners Association in support of APNGOs strike.

The educational institutions and commercial establishments in 13 districts too joined the agitation by observing bandh in response to the call given by the student JACs of 14 universities from Seemandhra region.

The regular work in Kakinada Port came to a standstill as the employees unions have decided to go on 48-hour strike in support of Saimakhyandhra agitation. The strike affected the functioning of both the Anchorage Port and Deep Water Port.

The functioning of judiciary was also affected in Seemandhra region as the lawyers too boycotted the courts in favour of Samaikhyandhra.