Strike shuts banks across India

Operations at state-owned banks across India have been badly affected by a strike by more than 900,000 employees.

Unions are protesting over pay and at plans to merge some of the 28 public banks to make them more competitive.

A union spokesman said some 60,000 branches had been closed, including those of the country's biggest lender, the State Bank of India.

Correspondents say private banks are not affected. Public banks handle the vast majority of transactions.