The strike of the truck operators entered the third day in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh today with the three states facing shortage of vegetables and fruits and of petroleum products whose supply chain was also disrupted due to strike by the employees of the oil companies.
Reports here said that the prices of vegetables and fruits have increased by around 20 per cent since yesterday as the movement of the two commodities remained suspended. The items, which have become costly include onions, tomato, carrot, lemon, apple, banana and orange.
Shortage of cereals and pulses was not being felt as the traders had stocks of these items which could last for few more days. Besides most residents were stated to have made purchases of their monthly ration in the first week of the month, officials said adding that there was shortage of vegetables and fruits.
Majority of the petrol filling stations had gone dry in the region with "no petrol, no diesel" sign boards being put up at the outlets. There were very long queues of motorists at the few petrol pumps, which had some stock with them.