# Manipur blockade drives prices up 140%; trucker dies, strike called 2026-08-12T04:39:31+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Truckers called a 24-hour strike on National Highway 37 on Thursday after driver Nagina Kumar Mahto died near Labankhal in Jiribam district. The movement, halting goods on the least blockade-prone highway, came as hundreds of trucks remained stranded on NH-202 for nearly three weeks. The blockade and counter-blockade by Naga and Kuki groups have pushed essential commodity prices up 140% in Manipur, according to ET Bureau. More than 400 trucks are stuck near Litan on the Imphal-Ukhrul route. Drivers say they have been without food or water for 20-25 days. The first round of talks between the Manipur government and the United Naga Council (UNC) was called 'fruitful' by a government spokesperson. UNC president Ng Lorho said the blockade would continue until its demands are met. Movement on NH-2, Manipur's main lifeline, remains restricted for some communities since the May 2023 ethnic conflict. ## Coverage - economictimes.indiatimes.com - thehindu.com Tags: blockade, essential commodities, highway blockade, Manipur, prices, United Naga Council Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/manipur-blockade-pushes-essential-prices-up-140/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/manipur-blockade-pushes-essential-prices-up-140/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.