Sate-owned buses plying to neighbouring Kerala from the district did not operate today, in view of the BJP bandh, called in protest against the murder of a party worker reportedly by CPM workers.

About 30 buses from the city to destinations like Palakkad, Ernakulam, Guruvayur and Thrissur were off the roads, following a tense situation prevailing in the state because of the bandh, official sources said. Similarly, 10 buses from Pollachi and eight from nearby Nilgiris district also stayed off the roads today, they said.

Regular passengers to nearby destinations like Palakkad complained about the hardship caused by the disruption.

Authorities will decide whether to restart services in the evening.