Kolkata, December 14: The 24-hour all-India bandh called by CITU, the CPI (M)'s labor arm beginning 06:00 A.M.today has severely affected all the business establishment, educational institutions, office functioning, companies and industries, etc.

And the major affect has been felt in West Bengal where the Government is ruled by the CPI (M), although it cannot be attributed to the State-sponsored bandh.

The people especially from the northeast having their train or flight tickets for December 14 to leave Kolkata have undergone immense ordeals for the last two or three days.

They, mostly students and sportspersons, were at a lost to understand.

Those who reached Howrah or Seldah Railway Stations here at Kolkata before the bandh came into effect could be ferried to their respective Guest Houses but those unfortunate ones who failed to make it still remained at the Stations and they would be there till next morning 06:00 A.M.But many trains coming to Howrah or Seldah or to cross West Bengal have to stop at the border till the bandh is over.

Those who were to leave by train on December 14 had to rush to Howrah or Seldah Railway Stations one day ahead and spent at the Stations, thinking the trains would move on the day.

In Nagaland House, Kolkata, the scene was gloomy, as over 50 youths including students, sportspersons, etc.

have become helpless as the bandh was fast approaching.

The dormitory was overcrowded and the kitchen management was almost paralyzed going hell of it.

In fact, over three hundred people mostly students had to eat yesterday and they had to sleep even in office rooms.

Similar scene appeared in Manipur House, Kolkata too.

But those especially students and sportspersons staying in Manipur House, Kolkata will most of the time receive maltreatment unlike in Nagaland House or Assam House.

The staffs at the reception are usually unruly to the youths who at times go wild at their uncooperative and autocratic attitudes.

Several complaints have been lodged but things have hardly changed.

These staffs only know Ministers, Secretaries and Commissioners and of course their kith and kin.

Not only this, those December-14-flight-ticket holders from the northeast also remained finger-crossed as the Airline authorities could not make any announcement till the last moment, applying wait and watch method.

Some major airlines like the Sahara, Jet, Kingfisher, have of course announced cancellation of their flights and re-scheduling flights one day ahead giving much relief to their passengers.

But Indian Airline's late announcement did not auger well especially for the northeasterners returning to their respective states from Kolkata.

More tragedies are for those holding scheme-flight tickets particularly Indian Airline tickets for December 14 as their tickets cannot be cancelled or preponed or postponed.

Initially many of them decided to leave their Guest Houses at wee hours for the Kolkata Airport before the bandh starts but they have to pay double-taxi fares.

Luckily, the late announcement on December 13 gave them a huge sigh of relief.

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