The deceased was one of the members of the agitating truck owners association which launched hunger strike in front of the collector's office since September 4.
The spontaneous bandh was also observed at the district headquarters town of Keonjhar, Joda and Barbil towns due to the death of an agitating truck owner Prem Ranjan Behera (55) yesterday, official sources said.
While all the commercial establishments, educational institutions remained closed for the day, vehicles remained off the road, sources said.
The truck owners have been staging agitation against mineral transportation through trains. The hunger strike has meanhile entered the 10th day while the members of the association are scheduled to meet the district administration officials on Septmber 17.
"We have invited the members of the agitating truck owners association for a discussion on September 17," said District Collector Balwant Singh appealing to the agitators to ensure return of normalcy in Keonjhar.
Hundreds of goods carriers were stranded on National Highway-6 and NH-215 as the agitators were not allowing them to ply through Keonjhar.
