MOHALI: Commuters were left stranded, traffic came to a standstill at several major intersections, and emergency vehicles struggled to navigate blocked roads as the Punjab bandh disrupted normal life in Mohali on Thursday. With protesters blocking key roads and intersections, travelling within the city and crossing into Chandigarh became a major challenge for office-goers and other commuters.The Punjab bandh was called to protest the killing of drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhotta, who was shot dead by a chemist in Mansa after allegedly exposing his illegal activities. The bandh was called to demand justice for Jhotta and a drug-free Punjab.The situation became particularly difficult as protesters blocked major traffic points across Mohali, leaving the police struggling to regulate traffic and clear passages for vehicles. Several roads were completely closed, resulting in long queues and diversions that offered little relief to people trying to reach their destinations.Ambulances were allowed to pass at some locations but struggled to make their way through the congestion. In one instance, a man was seen showing hospital papers to protesters to convince them to let him pass. Both were eventually allowed to proceed. Police personnel, including station house officers, were seen trying to pacify protesters and persuade them to keep service roads open for emergency and essential movement.The disruption also affected official movement, with vehicles belonging to administrative officers, including a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), reportedly being denied passage at certain points.The Zirakpur-Patiala highway and Azizpur toll plaza were completely blocked, while Landran Chowk was also closed to traffic, with police personnel deployed at the spot. Major intersections across Mohali witnessed blockades, adding to the traffic chaos.Some office-goers anticipated the disruption and crossed into Chandigarh early in the morning, before the protests intensified. Those who left later, however, faced considerable difficulties reaching their workplaces and other destinations.Markets across Mohali also saw widespread closures. The impact extended to Kharar, Kurali and New Chandigarh, where markets remained shut. In several places, protesters were also reported to have forcibly closed liquor vends.Sarabjit Singh Paras, president of the Mohali Beopar Mandal, said shopkeepers had initially opened their establishments but were forced to close them as the protest gathered momentum.“Shops were open in the morning, but by noon, protesters had got them closed,” Paras said.The response was comparatively lukewarm in Zirakpur, Derabassi and Lalru, where most shops remained open, unlike in Mohali city and other affected markets.With roadblocks disrupting movement along key routes, the bandh brought daily activities to a halt in several parts of the district, leaving commuters, traders and people seeking medical assistance to bear the immediate impact.
