In Andhra Pradesh, curfew was relaxed for an hour in the morning in Vizianagaram to enable people get essential commodities. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Umapathi told reporters that the situation remained peaceful. He said no fresh violence has been reported during the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, more than hundred persons involved in violent incidents have been arrested while special teams have been formed to nab suspects.

The power crisis in Seemandhara region has intensified with employees of more electricity wings joining the strike today in protest against state bifurcation.Life in Seemandhra has been severely affected. Hospitals, medical services and drinking water supply have been severely hit. It has been estimated that over 50 lakh households were experiencing a blackout in five districts for the past two days while the crisis has widened to other districts in the region since yesterday.

Several passenger and express trains were cancelled in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam divisions of the South Central Railways today for the third consecutive day due to the power crisis.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy will be holding talks with agitating employees tomorrow. He has appealed especially to power sector employees to call off their strike in view of the hardships to the general public. Opposing the centre’s move to bifurcate the state TDP President Chandrababu Naidu is on indefinite hunger strike in Delhi since yesterday while a hunger strike by YSR Congress President Y S Jagnmohan Reddy in Hyderabad entered the fourth day.

Congress General Secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Digvijay Singh has charged the Opposition parties of going back on their assurance on supporting the bifurcation of the state.

BJP leader Mr. Shahnwaz Hussain admitted that the opposition agreed on the bifurcation but held that the ruling party allowed the situation to go out of control.