Over 2000 trucks stranded along 20 Kms stretch
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 09 2026: As many as 2,000 loaded tankers and trucks are lined up along a 20-kilometre stretch from Jiribam to Assam's Pailapul, and the number of the stranded vehicles is only increasing.

The causes-deteriorating road conditions due to incessant rainfall, landslides, slow pace of repair works, and shortage of security escorts.

When such large number of vehicles are stranded in the border area with Assam, trucks plying Khongsang-Imphal have threatened to stop operations citing security concerns.

Over 2000 trucks stranded along 20 Kms stretch

The Transporters' and Drivers' Council has meanwhile written to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh asking for his immediate intervention to swiftly bring in the stranded vehicles and restore normal traffic. If no immediate actions are taken up to bring in the stranded vehicles, the State may continue to face acute shortage of essential goods, leading to abnormal rise in prices.

Many of the vehicles have been stranded at the border district for over 10 days, causing severe hardship to drivers, TDC said.

The TDC urged the CM to take steps to augment existing CRPF escort by deploying additional companies, and utilise State forces like IRB and MR as a special measure in case the CRPF strength is constrained.

It also urged the CM to instruct the NHIDCL to take up road repair works on the highway on a war-footing basis at all damaged and muddy stretches to ensure smooth and safe movement of vehicles.

Some of the most dilapidated sections of the NH-37 are at Kambiron, Sibilong, Noney and Nungkao.

If the stranded vehicles are not given priority and escorted, the number of vehicles piling up along the highway will only increase and deepen the crisis, it added.

Sources said increase in travel time on the Jiribam-Imphal due to bad road conditions has compounded the crisis.

Vehicles now take 4 to 6 days to reach Imphal from Jiribam.

It may even take more than a week in case landslides disrupt the commute, sources said.

In addition, the escort operation of only 8 CRPF companies has also caused vehicles to remain stranded at Jiribam, the sources added.

A convoy of CRPF escorts 150 trucks and tankers.

When multiple security convoys get stuck midway along the highway for days, there are not enough security escorts left to escort vehicles stuck at Jiribam and border areas in Assam.

This is also causing vehicles to line up along the Jiribam-Assam border, said the sources.

Only three security convoys have operated since August 1, the sources added.

Meanwhile, a landslide at Nungkao in the early hours today halted vehicular movement for hours.

NHIDCL deployed men and machinery to clear the debris blocking the road, and vehicular movement resumed this evening.

On the other hand, drivers operating Khongsang (railway station)-Imphal threatening to stop operation from tomorrow has caused concern about possible shortage of fertilizers.

The trucks operating on the route mainly carry FCI rice, fertilizers and cement from the Khongsang railway station to Imphal.

While these trucks are generally embedded into convoys departing Jiribam to Imphal, they have not been included as part of the CRPF convoys since the last couple days, said sources.

The CRPF's escort related orders have no mention of the trucks operating Khongsang-Imphal, and this has troubled the drivers, they said.

While the drivers have been embedding themselves amid convoys from Jiribam-Imphal, with the CRPF now expecting to take no responsibility for their safety, they don't want to continue operating at their own risk, they added.