Transportation blues hit Baddi, Barotiwala

SHIMLA: The prevailing tension in neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has brought down the industrial townships of Baddi and Barotiwala to a halt.

Amid fear of violence, trucks were stranded on the highways and the lateral roads connecting industrial towns of Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh.

“Many trucks are still stranded on roads as drivers fear violence,” said Vidya Rattan, president of Nalagarh truck operators union. There are around 10,000 trucks registered with the union. “For two days, the situation was bad. It was no different on Monday as nearly 2,000 trucks affiliated to the union are still stuck in Rajasthan,” he said. The union caters to transportation of goods in Baddi which is Himachal’s main industrial town.

“There were many drivers who refused to carry goods on Monday as they were still fearful of violence,” Rattan added.

Industries have suffered losses as most of the workers did not turn up due to the ongoing unrest. “For two days many industrial units have closed down their operations because workers and staff residing in Panchkula, Pinjore and Kalka are apprehensive to move,” said Sanjay Khurana, senior vice-president of Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Industries Association.

As a precautionary measure, many industrial units are providing lodging facilities to their workers who travel from Kalka and Pinjore in Haryana.

President of the Himachal chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Rajesh Saboo, said the tensed situation in neighbouring states has hit the industrial sector partially.