An elderly woman at Beesakopie village in Tinsukia district died on Wednesday because of non-availability of vehicles to take her to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh for treatment.

The district observed a half-day bandh spontaneously from early morning amid hearing on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Supreme Court.

Timaron Sonar, 80, was suffering from kidney, liver and lungs infections from last year.

She had been admitted to Tinsukia civil hospital several times and her health was improving.

“But on Wednesday morning she suddenly fell ill and we were out to search for private vehicles to take her to (AMCH) but unfortunately we did not find any there was a bandh,” one of her family members said.

In the afternoon, the bandh ended and traders opened their shops and vehicles also started plying. “But it was too late,” he said. She was cremated in the evening.

A similar situation had arisen during the first fortnight when the CAA was passed in December in Parliament. People, especially patients, had to suffer because of a week-long bandh.