Normal life in Kathmandu and other parts of the country is returning to normalcy from Tuesday afternoon as the main opposition party, the Unified CPN (Maoist), lifted its three-day strike from Tuesday noon.

Public as well as private vehicles were seen operating on the streets of Kathmandu after 12 noon. Some shops in downtown Kathmandu remained shut, while others started opening since this afternoon.

Many people said, they felt at ease due to the availability of transportation to reach their destinations after the resumption of the transportation and opening of the market for essential commodities. Roads were seen emptier than a normal day, but somewhat occupied after a complete emptiness for three days.

Grocery stores and vegetable market were crowded with customers who had been at short supply for three days. Most people seen at such stores complained of unnecessary problems caused by various political parties in Nepal by organising strikes time and again. Likewise, long queues of vehicles were seen outside petrol pumps.

After 12 noon, Tuesday, there was no one on the streets of Kathmandu to obstruct vehicular movement, as all the Maoist cadres had thronged New Baneshwar to attend a mass assembly organised by their party.

Most people in Kathmandu who were irritated by the Maoist bandh, looked relieved after the bandh was lifted.

However, educational institutions and private offices that had shut during the bandh remained closed Tuesday too as the transportation resumed only after 12.

Reports say, life in other parts of the country, too, is returning to normalcy. However, in many parts of the country, things are yet to become normal with the Maoists announcing another round of agitation after three days.

Entrepreneurs in Trishuli called another bandh soon after the Maoists lifted theirs' against a developing trend where things open and shut at the instructions of the Maoists alone. nepalnews.com