A Bandh was called by an umbrella group of trade unions in West Bengal, effective today. I'm not too sure on their demmands (I believe they are related to wage increases to cope with inflation), but the effects are incredible. Bandh literally means "dam", and that what has happened to Kolkata's daily economy. Not everything is stopped- many small tea stands, tourist restaurants, and about half of the street food vendors are still in operation.These may be likened to small holes in a dam, or perhaps the divergent course of water. Ninety percent of the small conveience stores, and all of the street vendors that sell clothes, toys, watches, purses, and books on the main streets are closed. The most striking results of the "dam" are visible on the main north-south drag- Nehru road, which is
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