Normal life in all 13 districts of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions came to a standstill on Wednesday following a bandh call given by the YSR Congress Party in protest against passing of Telangana Bill in the Lok Sabha.
All shops, establishments and educational institutions remained closed in entire Seemandhra region. While some areas wore a deserted look, a few streets resembled like war zones with protestors erecting road blocks, burning tyres and effigies of Congress leaders. The vehicular traffic on all State and National Highways passing through Seemandhra region was badly affected. The buses of State-run RTC remained off the road in all the districts of Seemandhra region.
Meanwhile, the universities and other educational institutions in Seemandhra postponed various examinations in view of the shutdown.
The shutdown is total in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Ongole, Srikakulam, Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Nellore, Tirupati, Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur and other towns in Seemandhra.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed across the region. Additional forces have been deployed in all the 13 districts to prevent any untoward incident.