Trucks stranded, City shops run out of stocks

According to traders, there are no lorry services to ferry products, and are now hoping that the proposal to start supply by goods trains would fructify.

Some of the supermarkets have already run out of bread, biscuits and sanitary napkins, while the stock in many shops is depleting rapidly. Store managers say the stock may not last more than four to five days. “We used to receive supply from about 100 companies, but now not even 20 are ready to supply. We are getting rice and millets, but stopped receiving bread and biscuits from last week,” said Arumugavel Ajay, manager,

Sri Saravana Stores Supermarket in Ekkaduthangal. This has also affected the customers, including those who stocked up when the shutdown was announced. “We visited at least six shops in the neighbourhood, but could not get bread and biscuits. Also, there are no sanitary napkins at any supermarket,” said Janaki D from Tiruvottiyur. S Soundarajan, South Chennai president of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai said shortage was caused by the disruption in lorry service.

“The supply will increase and prices will fall if they make such an arrangement,” he said. When asked, MR Kumaraswamy, president of State Lorry Owners Federation said less than five per cent of the 4.5 lakh lorries are being operated in Tamil Nadu because drivers are worried about police harassment. Though the government addressed the issue, the drivers, most of them from southern districts, are reluctant, he said, adding that load men, too, were not ready to work.