Supply Crisis Deepens as NH-2 Blockade Empties Imphal Shelves

Imphal: Imphal stores are running dry. A prolonged blockade on National Highway 2, the main supply artery for Manipur, has choked off the flow of goods into the city. Shelves sit empty. Traders cannot replace their stock as the primary route remains locked down, forcing supply chains to crawl.

Alternative routes offer little relief. While the Imphal-Jiribam highway, or NH-37, stays open, it remains a logistical nightmare. Constant landslides and rough terrain create massive transit delays, meaning trucks now take nearly a month to arrive. These deliveries used to take only a few days. Perishable items like fish, onions, and potatoes rot in transit, leaving local markets struggling to keep up with demand.

Prices are spiking. Markets now list onions at Rs 70 per kg and potatoes at Rs 40 per kg. Garlic hits Rs 180 per kg, while Mairongbi toor dal costs Rs 140 per kg. Kangtak sells for Rs 75 per kg, with masoor dal fetching between Rs 90 and Rs 100 per kg. Retailers point to a clear trend: "The shortage has become more pronounced over the past few weeks as inventories continue to shrink."

The timing is brutal. Local vegetable harvests have stalled as the summer season ends and winter crops have yet to hit the stalls. With external supplies trapped by the blockade and local production bottoming out, residents face a worsening crunch in the coming weeks.