Shillong: Shillong markets are hurting. Floods in Assam have severed vital transport links, leaving vendors in Iewduh, Laitumkhrah, Laban, and Polo with empty stalls and steep bills. The cost of basics like tomatoes, onions, potatoes, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, and green chillies has spiked as shipments stall.
Vendors point to damaged roads and higher fuel costs for the squeeze. Heavy freight charges and longer routes for delivery trucks mean every delivery costs more than it did a few weeks ago. "The supply has reduced a lot compared to before. Many vegetable-growing areas have been affected by floods, and transportation has also become difficult. Because of this, prices have increased," one Iewduh vendor said.
Green peas have effectively vanished from stalls. Prices surged so high that retailers refuse to stock them, knowing customers will walk away. Households are feeling the pinch. Many families now hunt for cheaper local alternatives or simply buy less food to keep their budgets intact.
Traders admit that everyone buys from the same thinning supply chain, leaving no room for price competition. They warn that costs will continue to climb until floodwaters recede and logistics return to normal. Until the roads clear, the city must live with higher bills and smaller harvests.
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