Karnataka is observing a day-long shutdown today, August 13, from 6 am to 6 pm in protest against the Cauvery water-sharing move after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has ordered the state to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12.
Various Kannada organisations gave a call for a Karnataka Bandh on August 13 in protest against the order, while chief minister DK Shivakumar has said the state government has the duty to protect the state’s farmers and abide by court orders, and the government will decide on it after assessing the situation.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru City Police have appealed for calm and cooperation ahead of the ‘Karnataka Bandh’ called for August 13, 2026, in protest against the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s order on Cauvery water allocation to Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka Bandh: What’s open, what’s closed?
Banks, hospitals, pharmacies and public transport and other essential services are likely to remain unaffected during the statewide bandh that will remain in effective from 6 am to 6 pm on August 13.
The schools will also function per usual during the statewide bandh, The News Minute reported, citing Karnataka Associated Managements of Schools (KAMS). The body had earlier called for the closure of schools, but later rolled back the call, saying that it would impact the academic schedules.
However, the KAMS has said it would extend moral support to the bandh. School managements, teaching staff and non-teaching employees have been asked to wear black ribbons or black strips as a mark of solidarity, the report added.
Bengaluru Police also said schools and colleges, offices, shops and commercial establishments, public transport and other normal activities are expected to function as usual in the city.
Security tightened in Bengaluru
To ensure public safety and maintain law and order, the Bengaluru City Police have made precautionary and security arrangements across the city. Adequate police deployment, patrolling and security measures have been put in place at important and sensitive locations.
The department said any act involving violence, threats, damage to public or private property, obstruction of road traffic or essential services, or any other act of taking the law into one’s own hands will be dealt with “firmly and appropriately in accordance with the law.”
“Bengaluru City has always demonstrated a spirit of peace, mutual respect and cooperation. In order to uphold this tradition, all members of organisations and the general public are requested to extend their full cooperation to the Bengaluru City Police and help ensure that the city remains peaceful, safe and normal,” the Commissioner said.