Karunya Plus lottery draw postponed to Feb 13 as Bharat Bandh disrupts Kerala: Check details

Thiruvananthapuram: The much-anticipated Karunya Plus (KN-610) lottery draw, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed to Friday, February 13 at 1.30 pm, as the country observes a 24-hour Bharat Bandh called by major central trade unions.

The Kerala State Lottery Protection Committee appealed to officials to defer the lottery draw, citing widespread disruptions in ticket sales and distribution caused by the strike. The decision to shift the draw was taken under Rule 8(6) of the Kerala Paper Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 2005.

Ticket holders are advised to retain their existing tickets and check the official Kerala State Lotteries website or authorised channels for updated results after the rescheduled draw.

The Bharat Bandh has brought sections of public life to a near standstill across the country. Organised by a coalition of over 10 central trade unions, including the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and others, the strike aims to protest the Centre’s new labour codes and economic policies, which unions claim erode workers’ rights and job security.

Farmer groups have also extended their support, raising broader concerns about trade agreements and their impact on agriculture.

According to union leaders, over 30 crore workers from across multiple sectors are expected to participate in the bandh. In several states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, and others, the bandh has resulted in significant disruptions.

Public transport services have seen reduced operations or complete shutdowns in some regions, shops and markets have downed shutters, and government offices are functioning with skeletal staff or remain closed. Essential services such as hospitals, emergency medical services, milk supply, and airport operations are expected to continue operating to minimise public hardship.

Banking services are also experiencing uneven disruption, with several public sector banks warning of potential delays in branch services, deposits, and withdrawals, due to participation by employees of major banking unions. While no official bank holiday has been declared, customers may still face limited services.

The impact of the Bharat Bandh today is being widely felt across India as daily life, commerce, and transport services grapple with participation in the strike and efforts by authorities to maintain essential functions.