In Kerala, the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by BMS in protest against the government's failure to control rocketing prices of essential commodities was near total in Kochi and neighbouring areas. Normal life was affected as shops and business establishments by and large remained closed and private buses kept off the road. Schools remained closed and attendance in government offices was reportedly thin. However, State Transport buses plied as usual. The hartal did not affect the activities of the public sector undertakings in the region. Loading and unloading activities at the Cochin Port was not affected, but goods and container movement was completely paralysed. In Cochin Shipyard, nearly 68 per cent of the employees reported for work.<br/>