Normal life was disrupted in the Kashmir valley on Thursday following a general strike called by various militant outfits and the hard-line faction of the Hurriyat Conference against the launch of the Srinagar-Muzaffarbad bus service.

The streets of Srinagar [Images] and other major towns wore a deserted look as people preferred to remain indoors in response to the strike call, official sources said.

While shops and business establishments remained closed for the ninth day (traders are on an indefinite strike against the implementation of value added tax), all modes of transport went off the roads, the sources said.

All government and private educational institutions, banks, courts and other establishments remained closed, while work in government offices was affected due to the strike, they said.

Security personnel, who have been deployed in strength, were seen patrolling the deserted roads to maintain law and order and foil any ultras' plan to strike in the city.

On Wednesday, militants attacked the Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar where the passengers of the inaugural bus were housed.