India, Oct. 14 -- Punjab is set to observe a bandh on Thursday, October 15, 2026, following a protest call over the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. The bandh is scheduled from 6 am to 5 pm and could affect road traffic, markets and public transport in some parts of the state.

The announcement has raised questions about whether bank branches will remain open in cities such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mansa, Patiala, Bathinda and Mohali.

However, October 15 is not listed as a scheduled bank holiday in Punjab's October 2026 bank holiday calendar. No blanket statewide bank closure specifically for the bandh has been confirmed. Customers should check with their local branches before travelling, as local di...