LUCKNOW: The nationwide indefinite strike called by transporters hit supply of essential items with 1.5 lakhs trucks across the state remaining off roads on the first day on Friday. All-India Motor Transport Congress, the apex body of truckers, said that it would continue strike till its demands of reduction in diesel prices and toll fee are met.In the city, the strike is being observed by Avadh Truck Operators’ Welfare Association.Association state president Karmveer Azad said that around 1.5 lakh trucks in state remained off the roads. He said that nearly 40,000 trucks transport vegetables and fruits across the state from Kanpur, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Sitapur, Allahabad and Kannauj.Azad said that 30,000 trucks transport building construction material from Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Ghatampur, Lalitpur, Kannauj, Kanpur, Lucknow, Siddharthnagar, Etawah , Sonbhadra and Faizabad across the state, while 15,000 trucks bring medicines from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Pune and Maharashtra and 20,000 trucks bring petrol, diesel and gas. Almost all the trucks remained off the roads on Friday, claimed Azad.The government will face loss of nearly Rs 200 crore daily because of the strike, said an official.Aleem Arshad, a vegetable distributor in Dubagga market told TOI, “Daily around 3,000 trucks bring vegetables to Dubagga, Munshipulia, Amausi and Bakshi ka Talab markets in the city. Vegetables cannot be stored for more than 24 hours. If the strike contunues it will create scarcity in retail markets.”Kaleem Ahmad, a distributor and supplier of medicines, said, “We hope the strike does not extend too long or else there could be a shortage of medicines.”

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