Security escorts with empty trucks head for Jiribam
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 23 2016: Security escorts along with 500 trucks including empty tankers and LPG carriers have left Imphal for Jiribam in order to safely escort back the 607 stranded trucks carrying essential commodities, petroleum and petroleum products and to bring more supplies to the State.

No more trucks have reached Imphal ever since December 12 when a huge number of trucks carrying essential commodities, petroleum and petroleum based products were escorted safely to the valley.

The security escorts, comprising of two companies of CRPF, which left for Jiribam with the empty trucks today are scheduled to bring back the stranded vehicles to Imphal on Sunday, December 25.On the other hand, the empty trucks heading for Jiribam would be escorted by the State security force from Imphal to Nungba and the paramilitary forces will then take over.

Petrol and diesel are no longer available at the pumps except in the black market at sky high prices.

Around 151 oil takers and LPG bullet trucks are amongst the huge number of goods carrying trucks stranded at Jiribam.

If the fuel laden trucks reach Imphal by Sunday, there is a possibility that most of the oil pumps in the State will open from Monday for a few days to supply fuel.

Even though stocks have dried up and the IOC has around 558 tankers (dealer and general transporters), only 18 IOC trucks comprising of 17 oil tankers and one LPG bullet truck were amongst the vehicles which left for Jiribam today.

As such, the fuel scarcity is not going to end any time soon.

According to one IOC official, most of the drivers are reluctant to undertake the journey resulting in the low number of tankers which left for Jiribam today.

They will surely agree to go on the next escorted trip, he added.

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