700 buses off road, protests and bandh in Karnataka over Cauvery water release

After the Supreme Court directed Karnataka government to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 10 days, farmers and activists from pro-Kannada outfits protested in various parts of Karnataka against the Supreme Court's directive.

According to a report in Deccan Chronicle, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah convened a meeting of legislature leaders and MPs in Bengaluru to discuss the issue.

The Cauvery Hitarakshana Samithi (Cauvery protection committee) called for a bandh on Tuesday in Mandya, even as farmers and others hit the streets protesting the top court's directive.

Agitated farmers and activists belonging to pro-Kannada outfits blocked Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway as protests intensified.

Earlier, buses travelling between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were blocked in Tamil Nadu. For safety, the Karnataka government has pulled off 700 of its buses travelling from Bengaluru and Mysuru to Tamil Nadu and Kerala, NDTV reported. Schools and colleges in the district have been closed for the day.