Saddened Marathwada observes total bandh

A pall of gloom spread over the eight districts of Marathwada region after news of the demise of Union rural development minister Gopinath Munde in a car accident in New Delhi on Tuesday reached there.

A total bandh was observed in his home district Beed, where almost all business establishments and educational institutions downed shutters early in the morning itself.

Thousands of people are rushing to Parli, Munde's hometown, to extend solidarity with the late leader's bereaved family. His last rites will be performed on Wednesday evening, sources said.

In Aurangabad district too, business establishments, schools and colleges remained closed. Reports coming in from other districts — Nanded, Latur and Parbhani — confirmed that a spontaneous bandh was observed there too.