Vehicular traffic was hit in several parts of the three southern Orissa districts of Kandhamal, Gajapati and Rayagada during a bandh organised by Maoists today.

The red rebels put up a road blockade at Pangalighati, near Daringibadi in Kandhamal district and at Nalaghat near Mandimera in Gajapati district.

While the traffic was cleared at Nalaghat by the police forces, effort was on to clear the road between Bramhanigaon and Daringibadi in Kandhamal district, DIG (Southern range) R K Sharma said.

Roads in several parts of the bandh-bound Kandhamal and Gajapati districts were deserted with government buses remaining off the roads following a strike by the Orissa State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) staff federation in support of their six-point demands.

The private operators in the districts have also cancelled bus services in the interior parts of the district.

Vansadhara Divisional Committee (VDC) of the outlawed CPI(Maoists) had given a call for the bandh on May 21 (Friday) as part of their 'Rastra Santrasvad Birodhi Divas' protesting the ongoing opearation against Maoists and alleged displacement of poor and tribal people and handing over prime land to industrial houses.