91 trucks, tankers reach Ladakh to replenish essential commodities

A truck carrying essential commodities entering Kargil on Monday. —Excelsior/Basharat Ladakhi
A truck carrying essential commodities entering Kargil on Monday. —Excelsior/Basharat Ladakhi

Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, Apr 20: In continuation to the steps being taken by the UT Administration Ladakh to replenish essential supplies in the twin districts of Leh and Kargil districts of the UT through Zojila Pass, 80 trucks carrying essential commodities like onion, tomato, eggs, milk, butter, sugar, cooking oil, fruits etc and 11 tankers carrying petrol, diesel and kerosene oil were allowed to proceed to Kargil and Leh today.
These include 61 trucks of essential commodities and 4 tankers for Kargil while as 19 trucks of essential commodities and 7 tankers for Leh district.
The trucks and tankers with a total of 141 drivers and additional staff were allowed to proceed towards Kargil and Leh amidst strict observance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and conditions issued by the UT administration.
Thorough screening of each driver and supporting staff was done at the screening facilities at Meenamarg while as their registration indicating their permanent address, contact number, origin and destination were recorded at the Police Post Meenamarg.
As per SOPs, the trucks and tankers were escorted in double escort system of Police organized by IGP Ladakh and supervision of Magistrates organized by the District Administration Kargil until they terminated at the off-loading destination at Khree Sultan Chow Sports Stadium Bemathang, Kargil.
The vehicles were not allowed to stop anywhere en-route Kargil and it was ensured strictly that the drivers and helpers would not interact with the local inhabitants both in Kargil and Leh, including laborers at any point including the point of offloading.
The empty trucks and tankers will depart in a convoy escorted by the Police which will also see off the convoy at zero point at the Zojila pass.