A hartal called by the Congress in forest-fringe panchayats of Pathanamthitta on Tuesday demanding the governments concerned to file a review petition against the Supreme Court order on eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) brought normal life to a halt.
The public transport system came to a standstill since the morning while shops remained closed. A few private vehicles could be spotted on roads. Emergency services, including hospitals, were exempted from the hartal.
The hartal, which began at 6 a.m, also witnessed tense moments when Congress activists blocked a couple of long-haul services of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) at Seethathodu and entered into arguments with the police.
