Imphal, August 10 (NNN): With the ongoing agitation demanding the declaration of full fledged Sadar Hills district paralyzing all vehicular movements along National Highways 53 and 39 for ten straight days, the prices of all essential commodities in Manipur have rose astronomically, hitting the average citizens the hardest. Hospitals have also suspended routine operations for lack of oxygen supply.
Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal have refused entertaining routine operations since the agitation intensified few days ago, and are now only dealing with critical cases that require emergency attention, said authorities of the two overburdened hospitals.
While talking exclusively to Newmai News Network the medical superintendent of JNIMS Dr. Khomdon informed that the general strike has reduced the oxygen stock of the hospital to a mere 85 cylinders, barely enough to meet the demand of routine operation. The hospital has wily-nily suspended all routine operations for lack of oxygen and has been entertaining patients with critical cases especially during the last one week, he said.
The story at RIMS and a private Shija Hospital are far from different. Here too, authorities are saying that routine operations have either been suspended or deferred for later days as the stock of oxygen is fast running out due to the indefinite general strike across Sadar Hills which has paralyzed National Highways 53 and 39 since August 1.
Some 300 oxygen cylinders were recently brought in from Guwahati but the trucks were stranded at Maram following the intensification of the agitation. With the help of security escort, some 200 cylinders, expected to last only 15 days, reached Imphal and are now reportedly stocked at a warehouse in Mantripukhri.
Hospital authorities are saying that since empty cylinders could not be dispatched to Guwahati for refills, the crisis is literally compounding with each passing day. However, the stocks of life saving drugs are reportedly sufficient in the state as of now.
Repeated appeals by hospital authorities and civil societies to allow free passage of oxygen cylinder carrying trucks have not cut ice with the agitators led by Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) which has imposed blanket prohibition on the movement of vehicles along the highways falling in the contiguous Sadar Hills.
Not just oxygen, essential commodities are also fast disappearing from the shelves triggering unnecessary inflation. For instance, a 50 kg bag of Parmal rice is being sold at Rs 650 which otherwise costs Rs 510. A cylinder of domestic LPG is sold at Rs 800 in the black market. The prices of onion and potato have also touched Rs 40 per kg. Groceries in Imphal are saying that the prices of PDS items have been increased Rs 10 across the board because of the general strike.
Meanwhile, All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) recently requested businesses in Imphal to resist the temptation of increasing the prices of essential commodities by taking advantage of the general strike. The students’ body has also instructed the general public to be vigilant and inform the body if anybody is found selling essential commodities at unreasonably high prices. Despite the intensification of the agitation, at least 313 freight trucks including 12 oil tankers and a tourist bus have left Imphal today for Jiribam along National Highway 53 under heave security cover.
Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal have refused entertaining routine operations since the agitation intensified few days ago, and are now only dealing with critical cases that require emergency attention, said authorities of the two overburdened hospitals.
While talking exclusively to Newmai News Network the medical superintendent of JNIMS Dr. Khomdon informed that the general strike has reduced the oxygen stock of the hospital to a mere 85 cylinders, barely enough to meet the demand of routine operation. The hospital has wily-nily suspended all routine operations for lack of oxygen and has been entertaining patients with critical cases especially during the last one week, he said.
The story at RIMS and a private Shija Hospital are far from different. Here too, authorities are saying that routine operations have either been suspended or deferred for later days as the stock of oxygen is fast running out due to the indefinite general strike across Sadar Hills which has paralyzed National Highways 53 and 39 since August 1.
Some 300 oxygen cylinders were recently brought in from Guwahati but the trucks were stranded at Maram following the intensification of the agitation. With the help of security escort, some 200 cylinders, expected to last only 15 days, reached Imphal and are now reportedly stocked at a warehouse in Mantripukhri.
Hospital authorities are saying that since empty cylinders could not be dispatched to Guwahati for refills, the crisis is literally compounding with each passing day. However, the stocks of life saving drugs are reportedly sufficient in the state as of now.
Repeated appeals by hospital authorities and civil societies to allow free passage of oxygen cylinder carrying trucks have not cut ice with the agitators led by Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) which has imposed blanket prohibition on the movement of vehicles along the highways falling in the contiguous Sadar Hills.
Not just oxygen, essential commodities are also fast disappearing from the shelves triggering unnecessary inflation. For instance, a 50 kg bag of Parmal rice is being sold at Rs 650 which otherwise costs Rs 510. A cylinder of domestic LPG is sold at Rs 800 in the black market. The prices of onion and potato have also touched Rs 40 per kg. Groceries in Imphal are saying that the prices of PDS items have been increased Rs 10 across the board because of the general strike.
Meanwhile, All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) recently requested businesses in Imphal to resist the temptation of increasing the prices of essential commodities by taking advantage of the general strike. The students’ body has also instructed the general public to be vigilant and inform the body if anybody is found selling essential commodities at unreasonably high prices. Despite the intensification of the agitation, at least 313 freight trucks including 12 oil tankers and a tourist bus have left Imphal today for Jiribam along National Highway 53 under heave security cover.
