Manipur truckers announce 24-hour strike after stranded driver dies amid NH-37 blockade

Tensions have escalated among truck drivers stranded along Manipur's National Highway 37 after a goods vehicle driver was found dead inside his vehicle near Labankhal in the Jiribam district on August 13.

The deceased driver has been identified as Nageena Kumar Mahto, a resident of Narayanpur in Bihar. According to fellow truckers, he had been stranded along the NH-37 route amid prolonged road blockades and landslides in the Lakhipur-Jiribam stretch.

Truck drivers said thousands of loaded vehicles have remained stranded on the highway for nearly a month, leaving drivers and their helpers struggling for food, drinking water, medicines and access to basic sanitation facilities.

According to the drivers, they tried contacting Mahto on Wednesday morning after noticing that he was not responding. He was subsequently found unconscious inside his vehicle and taken to the Jiribam Primary Health Centre, where the doctor on duty declared him dead.

Police from Jiribam police station reached the hospital following the incident and sent the body to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The death has triggered anger among the stranded truckers, who accused the authorities of failing to address their prolonged ordeal. They alleged that drivers transporting essential commodities to Manipur have been forced to remain on the roads for weeks without adequate food, drinking water or medical assistance.

The truck drivers also criticised the Centre and the Manipur government, alleging that their concerns had not been adequately addressed despite the prolonged disruption of road connectivity in the state.

The drivers have demanded compensation for the deceased driver's family and said they would not accept the body until their demand is addressed.

As a mark of protest, the truckers have announced a 24-hour ban on movement of goods trucks to Manipur. They warned that the protest could be extended if the government fails to provide compensation to the family and address the problems faced by stranded drivers.

The exact cause of Mahto's death will be established after the post-mortem examination.