Karnataka bandh: 44 flights cancelled, bus services disrupted; protesters detained

The statewide dawn-to-dusk bandh called by pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations on the Cauvery water row on Friday threw life out of gear as transportation services were disrupted.

Schools and colleges remained shut as protest marches were taken out across the state.

The shutdown was called by 'Kannada Okkuta', an umbrella organisation for Kannada outfits, including factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers' bodies, against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

While over 44 flights to and from the Kempegowda International Airport had to be cancelled, the state transport corporations also suspended their bus services, especially in the Cauvery basin districts of Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar, where the bandh had the most impact.

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) said there were only 59.88 per cent bus operations in southern parts of Karnataka.

The worst hit were Mysuru and Chamarajanagar divisions.

Against the scheduled departure of 447 buses, only seven plied in Mysuru while in Chamarajanagar, eight out of 247 bus services operated.

Mandya, Chikkamagaluru and Bengaluru witnessed 37.25 per cent, 51.49 per cent and 57.39 per cent operations, respectively, against the scheduled departures.

Bus stands and railway stations in southern Karnataka and the airport in Bengaluru wore a deserted look.

Farmers and pro-Kannada organisations staged protests near Attibele in Bengaluru, airport premises and in Mandya region. 

The members of a farmers' association in Karnataka's Mandya also held 'rail roko' protest over the Cauvery water sharing issue.

On the airport premises, over 12 people were taken into preventive detention. 

Protesters also swarmed bus stations staging demonstrations and raising slogans holding banners, posters and placards.

The agitators blocked many roads in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar leading to a chaotic situation.

Section 144 has been imposed in Mandya district, and schools and colleges will remain closed. Most of the shops, business establishments and eateries in the Cauvery basin districts downed their shutters. 

Private vehicles were off the roads in those areas. Protesters set fire to a portrait of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin in the district headquarters town of Chitradurga.