Diwali and Chhath leave hit SIDCUL supply chain: trucks leaving daily fall from 1,200-1,400 to 600-700, output in many factories down 30-40%; freight up 15-20%

Since Diwali, the movement of goods and production in Rudrapur's SIDCUL industrial area have been hit because a large number of truck drivers and workers are on leave. According to Amar Ujala, citing the association, before Diwali about 1,200 to 1,400 trucks a day carried 18,000 to 20,000 metric tonnes of goods out of SIDCUL; this has now fallen to 600 to 700 trucks and 8,000 to 10,000 metric tonnes a day, a drop of about 45 to 50 per cent in supply. Industrialists say drivers and workers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal have gone home for Chhath Puja, and many trucks that left with goods did not return, so trucks are scarce and freight has risen by 15 to 20 per cent. With raw material not arriving, production in many factories has fallen by 30 to 40 per cent and finished goods are lying in warehouses. SIDCUL Association president Gajendra Singh said there is no need to panic and supply will be normal in two to three days; former president Ajay Tiwari said this happens every year and things will be normal after November 15.