Thousands of truckers stranded as supply route to Manipur stalls

Guwahati: More than 12,000 truckers are trapped on National Highway 37. They are desperate for food and water. Over 5,000 trucks sit on a 15-kilometre stretch between Phulertal and Jirighat, while another 7,000 wait at the border for clearance into Imphal.

Local police only clear 15 to 20 trucks per day. This bottleneck has lasted ten days. Drivers lack basic sanitation, forcing them to use nearby forests. Local residents are angry. The mess has spiraled into a humanitarian disaster for those stuck on the road.

The Silchar Truck Drivers' Association has handed out water and food since July 1. Resources are running dry. The group warned that their current supply is not enough for the thousands of men left in limbo. They are struggling to keep up with the demand.

Drivers say the Cachar district administration and state government ignored them. They claim no help has arrived. Office-bearers of the Silchar Truck Drivers' Association have appealed to the government to "provide food supplies, safe drinking water, temporary sanitation facilities and other essential services" for the stranded workers.