Even though some Naga tribal organisations had suspended the 68-day blockade against Manipur on June 18, the State is far from normal as far as availability of consumer goods, life-saving drugs and fuel is concerned. Drivers have boycotted the Highway 39, which snakes through Nagaland demanding compensation for the 14 trucks the tribal miscreants had torched during the blockade and a commitment to stop extortion of illegal taxes from Manipur's vehicles inside Nagaland.
A bridle path
On the other hand, the Highway 53 which skirts through Nagaland is in fact a bridle path with numerous craters, ditches and rivulets across it. Reports say that over 1500 trucks and buses have been stranded at different mountainous areas along this highway for the last 11 days.
Over 500 drivers, cleaners and passengers of the stranded vehicles have been facing starvation in the mountains and there is no medicine to cure common diseases.
The highway repairing works are being undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation and the State Works Department and moving at snail's pace. The drivers have been collecting donations and are taking stones free of charge to elevate the slippery parts of the highway. The officials in Imphal cannot say when these stranded vehicles will be reaching Imphal. In view of the long queue of the stranded vehicles, police and security forces have prevented other vehicles from leaving Imphal and Jiribam for the time being.
Meanwhile, J.N. Hospital, a State-government undertaking, has announced that all operations have been suspended from Sunday as there is no stock of medical gas. Those patients who need oxygen inhalers will have to go without it. Dr. Y. Mohen, Medical Superintendent of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, a Central government undertaking, told The Hindu there is no stock of medical gas in the hospital. Under the circumstances, all operations will be suspended from Monday. Other private hospitals and nursing homes have also suspended operations or are not admitting patients who will require medical gas.
Reports also said that almost all the life-saving medicines are out of stock in the pharmacies. On Sunday, several pharmacists told The Hindu that as no medicine was brought to Manipur, there was no stock. They said that even tablets for hypertension or piles patients were not available.
Prices skyrocket
A government official said that the life-saving drugs and medical gas are likely to be airlifted if the stranded trucks along highway 53 cannot reach Imphal in a day or two. Prices of all essential commodities are still high and oil pumps are still shut. One litre of petrol is sold at Rs 120 by roadside vendors and the police have not lifted a finger against this black-market sale.
