399 trucks reach Imphal via Jiribam Many still stuck along Imp-Dpr road

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 18: Even as 399 loaded trucks including fuel tankers have reached Imphal today under security escorts, more than 200 goods-laden trucks are still stranded between Senapati's Tadubi and Nagaland's Khuzama.
While the drivers and handymen of the stranded trucks are facing severe shortage of supply including food and water, loads of perishable items including onions, tomatoes and cabbages have gone bad and wasted. Some truckers have resorted to selling perishable vegetable items at Kohima to cut losses, said sources.
The trucks are stuck between Tadubi and Khuzama stretch since May 13 after Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) imposed a total shutdown.
The shutdown came after the killing of several persons in incidents of targeted ambush and abduction of dozens of people belonging to the Kuki and Naga community.
On the sixth day of the total shutdown today, 399 loaded trucks arrived at Imphal from Noney (Jiribam-Imphal road) under tight security escorts, said sources.
The vehicles arrived at Imphal in two batches under tight security escorts.
The 399 vehicles include 31 LPG tankers, 178 petrol and diesel tankers and 190 goods vehicles.
183 of the vehicles were stranded at Noney since Saturday.
Meanwhile, sources said no security escorts have been arranged for vehicles on the Imphal-Dimapur stretch even though the vehicles have been stranded for six straight days since May 13.
Jiten Chhetri, a driver stranded at Khuzama, said the drivers and handymen are facing severe shortage of supply, especially water.
Jiten said they have run out of the supplies they brought with them.
To get essential items and supplies, the stranded men have to go miles to Kohima or Mao Gate, he said.
He said the taxi fare to Kohima or Mao Gate from the place where they are stranded costs Rs 200, costing Rs 400 per head for a round trip.
Water is very scarce, he said.
Jiten said they have to go several kilometres to get a single bucket of water for daily use.
He said they are rationing water, and using it mainly for cooking. Having been stranded for six days, Jiten said they are running very low on cooking fuel.
Further, the lack of toilets is also a problem facing the stranded drivers and handymen, he said.
Trucks which are carrying perishable items have incurred huge losses, Jiten said.
Vegetables including tomatoes, cabbages and onions have gone bad and wasted. Some have resorted to selling the vegetables at Kohima at heavily discounted rates to cut losses, he added. Jiten, however, thanked the All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union, Drivers Union, Senapati District Drivers Welfare Union and Surface Transport Hill Areas Drivers Welfare Union for providing them material assistance including rice, grain, salt, edible oil and other daily use items.
While thanking the organisations for their assistance, Jiten said, the State Government must immediately take actions to open the highway and allow them to proceed toward Imphal.
The Government, he said, should provide adequate security escorts for the vehicles to reach Imphal.
The stranded drivers and handymen have been facing immense hardships since May 13. The men may face serious health related issues if left stranded for an extended period, Jiten said, pleading to the Government to provide security escorts.