Hyderabad, Oct 5 (IANS): Road transport came to a virtual halt and several shops and businesses remained shut for the second day in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra against the centre's decision to create a separate Telangana state.

Protestors demanding 'samaikyandhra' (united Andhra) continued to block state and national highways, disrupting traffic to and from the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha.

Educational institutions remained closed in all 13 districts of Seemandhra as Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra are collectively called.

Tension prevailed in Vijayanagaram as protestors targeted the properties of state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana and his relatives. They also held demonstrations in front of the residences of several state ministers and parliamentarians, blaming them for the centre's decision.

The agitators also stopped private vehicles carrying pilgrims to the Tirumala temple at Tirupati for 'Brahmatsovam'.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements in view of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's visit to the temple to make offerings on behalf of the state government. Student and govt employees' leaders have been taken into preventive custody.

Samikyandhra Joint Action Committee (JAC) has called for a 48-hour shutdown in Seemandhra to protest the central cabinet's decision to bifurcate the state. The Union cabinet Thursday approved the formation of a separate Telangana state.

More than six lakh government employees and teachers are on strike for nearly two months to protest the bifurcation. Buses of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) are also off the roads since Aug 13.