Left high & dry on roads

Left high & dry on roads
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Highlights

The indefinite nationwide strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress has resulted in about 6000 trucks from both the Telugu speaking states being stranded at the double lane National Highway No 60 at Balasore, Badras, Chandikol, Cuttack, Kuntini, Anubool and Ganjam on the Odisha-West Bengal border. These trucks were on their way to Kolkatta and Jharkhand.

600 trucks from AP, TS stranded at Odisha-WB border

Srikakulam: The indefinite nationwide strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress has resulted in about 6000 trucks from both the Telugu speaking states being stranded at the double lane National Highway No 60 at Balasore, Badras, Chandikol, Cuttack, Kuntini, Anubool and Ganjam on the Odisha-West Bengal border. These trucks were on their way to Kolkatta and Jharkhand.

Most of these trucks are carrying perishable goods like Tomato, cauliflower, onions, cabbage, eggs and fruits. The drivers and cleaners of the trucks who have been on the road ever since the lorry strike began on October 1 are facing a horrible situation. They have run out of money and are facing problems in getting food and drinking water.

Crew members of these stranded trucks are facing health problems. One of the drivers said that a helper of a truck fell sick and was declared dead when he was taken to a hospital. They do not have money to buy medicine and also there are no medical facilities nearby. They cannot abandon the truck and go.

A driver Satish said that despite drivers and cleaners guarding the vehicles there have been incidents of vandalism. Some people stole sacks of vegetables.

There were instances of vehicle batteries also being stolen. Some locals robbed the drivers and beat them up, said Lorry Owners’ Association State president, M Janakiram Reddy.

They took away cabbage, tomatos, onions from the vehicles forcibly and sold them at throw away prices, he explained. On Monday onions that were taken away were sold for Rs 10 a kg and cabbage was sold at Rs 5, Reddy told to The Hans India.

The drivers complain that there has been no word from the lorry owners about how long the strike would continue. The goods are perishing and would be a loss both to the sellers and buyers.

They said no directions or help was forthcoming from the owners. “The situation here is pathetic and the governments and lorry owners should take immediate measures to come to our rescue,” said one of the drivers’.

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