Millions of workers in India have held a nationwide strike in protest at government plans to privatise state-owned businesses.

The one-day stoppage severely affected the banking, transport, insurance and mining sectors, and brought Calcutta to a virtual standstill as protesters marched through the streets.

Public transport, including the Calcutta underground ground to halt, while attendance at government offices was very poor.

The strike was called by trade unions including the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, who claimed about 40 million workers were participating in the walk-out.

... The strike almost crippled the financial sector, with four out of the nine major banking unions taking part and the Calcutta stock exchange was shut.

Movement and handling of goods in most of the country's ports also came to a standstill.

Rail and air transport were disrupted and Calcutta's normally crowded roads were empty except for children playing and some police vehicles.

Train services in both Eastern and South Eastern railway were hit as protesters blocked railway tracks in various places, leaving many tourists, amongst others, stranded.