Lucknow, Feb 20 (IANS): Normal life was disrupted across Uttar Pradesh Wednesday on the first day of the two-day bandh called by 11 trade unions to oppose the "anti-labour" policies of the union government.

While a minor clash was reported from Noida, neighbouring Delhi, as angry workers indulged in a fracas at a hosiery complex in phase II and jammed traffic at Mamoora Chowk, no untoward incident was reported from other parts of the state.

City roads in the state capital wore a deserted look as 250 city buses pulled out of regular services and took part in the bandh. Autorickshaws also kept off the roads. With the Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) employees taking part in the strike, the 10,000-odd government-run buses too stayed off the roads.

Commuters were left stranded, and overcrowding was reported at railway stations. Following this, the state government pressed 200 buses into service at the Kumbh in Allahabad.

The bandh was total in Meerut, Ghaziabad, Noida, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Saharanpur, Unnao, Moradabad and Allahabad. Major markets in Lucknow like Aminabad and Hazratganj were deserted, and operations at post offices and state-run banks were disrupted.