Patna, Feb 20 (IANS): Thousands of people were stranded across Bihar Wednesday as trains were stopped and key highways blocked by activists affiliated to various trade unions that have called for a nationwide two-day strike.

Workers of trade unions stopped nearly a dozen passenger and long-distance trains at Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Hajipur, Bhagalpur and Darbhanga railway stations.

"Train services have been badly hit since Wednesday morning due to the shutdown, leaving passengers stranded at railway stations," a railway official said.

Police said strikers blocked national and state highways at various places across the state. "Road services are badly hit. Long route buses and trucks are not plying on roads," a police official said.

The authorities have announced closure of all private schools in Patna in view of the shutdown, called by trade unions to demand concrete measures for containing inflation, steps for employment generation, universal social security, and making the minimum wage to Rs.10,000 per month along with daily allowance.

The strike, which ends Thursday, has been called jointly by the BMS, Indian Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) and other such central organisations.