Supplies Reach Manipur Via Mizoram

Imphal/Aizawl, May 17 : Trucks loaded with essential supplies and petroleum products have begun entering Manipur which remains cut-off with two highways from Assam and Nagaland blockaded by Naga students since April 16, official sources said today.

Around 18 heavy and 17 light commercial vehicles carrying 220 barrels of petrol, 76 barrels of diesel and 35 bags of sugar and other supplies entered Manipur territory yesterday from Mizoram, the sources said.

More vehicles are on their way to Manipur, the sources said. Official sources in Aizawl said the Mizoram government, which has accepted the appeal of neighbouring Manipur, today appointed state Joint Secretary for home T V Fambol as the nodal officer to oversee movement of essential commodities via the Silchar-Aizawl-Sinzawl- Churachandpur-Imphal road.

Earlier, the Manipur government sent an SOS to the Mizoram government seeking help in using an alternate route to ferry supplies to the beleaguered state.