Imphal, May 17 2010: Life saving drugs and food items were airlifted with cargo flight in the state from outside began from today even as movement of freight trucks on the NH-150 started reaching Imphal.

Official reports said that 8 metric tones of life saving drugs were airlifted today from Guwahati in the first cargo flight landed at Imphal airport this morning, at about 9.30 am.

The medicine items would be lasted for about a week, a statement of the Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association claimed.

The items airlifted by cargo flight from Guwahati included essential drugs items which stocks in government as well as private hospital had been exhausted or depleted sharply.

The cargo flight (special flight) from Guwahati will be in operation on daily basis and government will giving subsidy to the cargo fare in procuring the items.

Another cargo flight landed in the evening, at about 5.30 pm also transported 3.5 metric tones of rice.

The rice items mean for the PDS will be distributed to the BPL and AAY card holders of Imphal tomorrow starting from 9 am tomorrow in some selected market areas at the rate of Rs 16 per kg.

The rice consignments have been handed over to the Imphal west DC and District Supply Officer for onward distribution under the PDS, official source said.

The next consignment of rice will be arrived at 9 am tomorrow and the 3.5 metric tones of rice will be distributed to the BPL and AAY card holders of Imphal east through the DC and DSO of the district, the source said.

On the other hand movement of empty and freight trucks on the stretch of the Imphal-Churachandpur-Sinzawl-Aizawl-Silchar (Assam) section of the NH-150 started.

Freight trucks from Assam started arriving Imphal through the highway, official reports said today.

Officials of the state consumer affairs, food and public distribution department detailing at the Manipur-Mizoram border at Sinzawl on the N-150 informed that around 50 freight trucks have arrived Churachandpur.

This is above the 16 loaded trucks, three each of 407 and DI mini trucks had crossed the border yesterday apart.

Many empty trucks have also left for collecting essential items from Silchar of Assam.

More freight vehicles are expected to arrive today as they have got report from Aizawl of leaving more vehicles on this route for Imphal.

State PWD department has also sent machineries and manpower to repair the bad portions of the stretch of the highway which had been pointed out by the ministerial, inspected the road condition, officials of the department said.

Two bulldozers, three JCP and other required equipments have been dispatched for the same.

They will reach the place by tomorrow to start the repairing works immediately, they added.