Bengal bandh: Airlines issue advisories; bus drivers wear helmets
What's the story
Major airlines, including IndiGo, Vistara, and SpiceJet, have issued travel alerts due to the 12-hour Bengal Bandh, advising passengers to allow extra time for reaching Kolkata airport. The bandh, triggered by police actions involving lathi charges and tear gas during the Nabanna Abhijan, may cause disruptions. The airlines' advisory warns of potential issues such as local transport problems, road blockages, diversions, and traffic congestion. Passengers are urged to plan for additional travel time to navigate these disruptions.
Travel advisories
Airlines advise passengers to plan for extra travel time
IndiGo in its advisory wrote, "Customers who have their travel planned from #Kolkata, may experience road blockages and diversions en route the airport. Please plan your journey with extra travel time to ensure a smooth trip. Do keep a tab on your flight status too." Vistara in its advisory said, "Traffic congestion and slow vehicle movement are expected enroute to Kolkata Airport on August 28th. Customers are advised to allow more time for their journey to the airport. Thank you."
Rail disruptions
Train services disrupted across several regions
Separately, according to news agency ANI, train services between Bangaon and Sealdah faced disruptions but are now being restored. In Cooch Behar, North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus drivers have been seen wearing helmets as per administration instructions. A bus driver told ANI, "We are wearing helmets due to the bandh today... The department provided us with the helmets."
Security measures
Kolkata on high alert amid BJP's call for Bengal bandh
Security has been tightened in Kolkata due to the Bharatiya Janata Party's call for a 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh.' Dendup Sherpa, additional superintendent of police, said "Police personnel are deployed everywhere to maintain law and order in the state." This comes after Tuesday's chaos when security forces used tear gas shells, water cannons, and resorted to lathi charge to disperse protesters marching toward Nabanna, the state secretariat.
Twitter Post
Read: SpiceJet's advisory here
#TravelAdvisory: Local transport in West Bengal may be disrupted as a result of the #BanglaBandh declared for tomorrow, 28th Aug'24. Passengers are advised to monitor their local traffic conditions and keep a check on flight status via https://t.co/qgJ2NF4j1x and allow themselves…
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) August 27, 2024
Twitter Post
Watch: TMC party workers protest
#WATCH | North 24 Parganas | TMC Party workers protest against BJP's 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' call for today.
— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2024
Train services were disrupted between Bangaon-Sealdah which is now being reinstated pic.twitter.com/ISyiQqBlv6
Twitter Post
Watch: Bus drivers wear helmets amid Bengal Bandh
#WATCH | BJP's 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh': Drivers of North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) buses seen wearing helmets, in Uttar Dinajpur
— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2024
A bus diver says, "We are wearing the helmet as bandh has been called today...The government has ordered us to wear the helmets for… pic.twitter.com/TgEPJyD5zb