Imphal:
It's an unprecedented situation in Manipur. It has now been 59 days since the economic blockade was imposed by some pro-Naga groups who are demanding greater autonomy for the Hills. The state government has miserably failed to break the deadlock, leading to a major crisis of essential items - something as vital as cooking gas is running out.
Customers queue up for hours in front of a gas agency in Imphal but the supply is limited. Just 15 trucks of cooking gas have arrived after weeks and this stock is meant for the entire state till the next consignment arrives.
Kavita has refilled her cooking gas cylinder a month back and now that's running out. "After this I will cook by firewood," she says.
Till recently, a cylinder could be refilled for around Rs 1500 in the black market. But that too, is not available easily now so most people are making their own arrangements.
"We can last for another month with husk as fuel for cooking, but this is not a permanent solution" says Atom Krishnamohon, a worried resident of Khumbong.
Though the Manipur government has escorted two convoys in the last two months through NH-53, the road condition is now deteriorating with the onset of monsoon. The other option, NH-150, hasn't really worked. So the only option before the government now is to break the deadlock to force open the blockade of NH-39.