Normal life was affected in Kolkata and other districts in West Bengal on Monday due to a bandh called by the opposition parties on the Nandigram issue.

Bandh supporters blocked vehicular traffic and train movement in different parts of the state by picketing on tracks, police said.

A state bus was torched near Moulali in central Kolkata in the morning but the police could not find the attackers.

Except this, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere till 8 am.

Vehicular traffic was thin on the city streets and many shops and markets were closed. However, air traffic was normal at the NSC Bose International Airport, sources said.

Security was tightened all over the state and district authorities were asked to maintain a normal life. Additional police forces were posted at vulnerable areas.

Many passengers remained stranded in Howrah and Sealdah stations with very few taxis were available.

Rail blockades were reported from Baruipur, Nabadwip, Bansberia, Chengail, Bauria, Ramrajatala and Bagnan stations, railway sources said.

This is the second bandh on the Nandigram issue in less than a fortnight after the state was paralysed by Trinamool Congress' 'halt Bengal' on October 31.

While Trinamool Congress has called an indefinite bandh from Monday, Congress and CPI-ML have given a call for 24-hour bandh, while the BJP's has called a 48 hour one.

Socialist Unity Centre of India, a left opposition, extended the period of its bandh call to 48 hours from the 24 hours earlier.