Bharat bandh: Goa remains shut, tourists stranded

PANAJI: The strike called by NDA against the petrol price hike today disrupted normal life in Goa where many tourists were stranded in the coastal belt in the absence of public transport.

Tourist taxis, private buses and even autorickshaws were off roads fearing attack by protestors.

Police claimed that the strike was largely peaceful till noon barring few incidents of road blockages and pelting of stones in North Goa's Bicholim town.

Siolim bridge linking the North Goa to Bardez and Tiswadi talukas was also blocked.

The attendance in government and private offices was thin.

Fearing action from transport department against them, All Goa Bus Owners Association (AGBOA) had earlier decided not to support the strike, but they did not run their buses.

State-run Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited had few of its buses plying on some routes.

But the skeletal number of buses were not enough to cater to the passengers who were seen stranded on various bus stands across the state.

Several banks, which had initially decided not to join the strike, had rolled down their shutters as they ran short of staff to run day-to-day affair, sources said.