The 26,000-crore Bharat bandh: 10 facts about Day 2

New Delhi: The two-day Bharat bandh called by 11 major trade unions is costing the country about 26,000 crores, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

Here are the 10 big facts about Day 2:

1. At least eight factories in Delhi's industrial belt of Okhla were vandalised by a mob this afternoon. The police said some arrests have been made, but did not share more details. Hundreds attacked at least eight factories in the capital Thursday during the final day of a two-day nationwide strike called by major trade unions, police said. Tweets from people who work in Okhla referred to cars being attacked too. (Factories attacked in Delhi)
2. The violence today follows yesterday's hours-long rampage in Noida, 15 kms from Delhi. 100 people have been arrested. Nearly 600 offices were damaged and 25 cars were set on fire. (100 arrested for Noida violence)
3. In Gurgaon, also near Delhi, many multi-national companies are closed today. Union leaders in the area have promised that their strike will be peaceful.
4. In Bengal, Trinamool Congress workers have allegedly cut off the ear of a panchayat worker for not reporting to work yesterday. The man has been rushed to a Behrampore hospital in critical condition.
5. In Delhi, public transport has been affected. Auto-rickshaws are tough to find, and the Delhi Metro is more crowded than usual.
6. Bangalore: Schools and colleges are closed but the city's large conglomerate of IT companies is open.
7. Thiruvananthapuram: There's no public transport and shops are shut for the second day. The government has issued a no-work-no-pay warning for its employees, which has been largely ignored. Private offices are reporting thin attendance. Universities have cancelled examinations. Passengers arriving at the train station and airport are being given lifts in police vans. Long queues were seen at the few petrol pumps open. (Shutdown in Kerala for second day)
8. Lucknow: 9,000 government buses are not running. Government-owned banks are closed. ATMs have run out of cash.
9. Parliamentarians from Left parties are not attending the first day of the budget session today in a show of support for trade unions.
10. 26 public sector banks have been closed for business since yesterday. Their 10 lakh employees are on strike. (Bank operations hit) The 11 trade unions who have called the strike want better enforcement of labour laws and are unhappy with high prices and inflation.
    
    Source : http://www.ndtv.com