Normal life came to a grinding halt in Muniguda town of Rayagada district on Wednesday as residents observed a 12-hour bandh, protesting the Odisha government’s decision to exclude the town from the list of newly declared Notified Area Councils (NACs).
The bandh, called by the NAC Milita Kriyanusthan Committee and Muniguda Pragati Manch, began at 6 AM and brought the town to a standstill. Shops, markets, schools, government and private offices remained closed, while public transport was completely paralyzed.
Connectivity between Muniguda and neighbouring states Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, as well as adjoining districts Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Gajapati, was snapped. Commuters were left stranded as buses and private vehicles stayed off the roads.
The protestors demanded immediate recognition of Muniguda as an NAC, citing the town’s growing population and civic infrastructure needs.
Though essential services like hospitals and utilities functioned normally, residents faced severe inconvenience. Protestors warned that the agitation would intensify if the demand is ignored.
The bandh remained peaceful, but the public mood reflected rising anger over what locals call the “government’s neglect” of Muniguda’s aspirations.
