Shillong, June 5: As the country fights the deluge of novel corona virus, especially the devastating second wave, the narrations have mostly been focused on the symptoms and care of patients, vaccines and vaccination, stress on health and frontline workers, essential food items, and the scampering to arrange necessary equipment for critical care such as oxygen tanks, concentrators among others. But one section that is ensuring that these essential items and equipment reach respective states and hospitals on time is often ignored – the transporters, specifically the truck drivers.
The truck drivers have been transporting essential items across the states even at the peak of COVID-19, without caring for their own health and inconveniences and of their families.
Their tireless work has ensured that states don’t run out of stocks of food, medicine and other essentials items. Yet, they are the most unacknowledged section, and subjected to the most of the abuses and harassment by officials at every entry gate and check points across the country.
The case is similar with a batch of truckers stuck near the Umiam Bridge, in Ri-Bhoi district, who have been camping there for 3-4 days now. The reason being that they have been told by the officials that a bridge along the Shillong bypass road is in a weakened state, thereby, not suitable for their trucks to cross while they are not allowed to pass through the Shillong city either citing there is no way across.
One driver said he was supposed to go to Mawngap area of East Khasi Hills with items of the Electricity Department, which he has brought from Raipur, Chhattisgarh. But he has been stranded at the spot for 3- days without any clue as to what to do or where to go.
One of the bigger problems though has been of sanitation as the area they have parked their vehicles in have no provisions for drinking water or washroom or any hotel nearby. This has been an immense hardship for them.
To make matters worse, on their way through the state, they had to pay Rs 4,000 to some officials at Byrnihat checkgate to be allowed to ply across. But after reaching the current spot, they haven’t been allowed to drive further.
On the other hand, they have tried to contact the concerned departments as well but there is no response.
