Agartala, 30th October 2026 : . A severe drinking water crisis triggered a prolonged road blockade at Saikabari under the 46-Surma Assembly constituency on Friday, disrupting vehicular movement along the alternative National Highway 208 connecting Kailashahar with Agartala via Kamalpur. The blockade, which began at around 5 AM, continued until the afternoon, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded on both sides of the road.
According to local residents, the area has been facing an acute drinking water shortage for the past three months due to the disruption of regular water supply. Despite repeatedly approaching the concerned department and bringing their grievances to the attention of officials, no effective steps were reportedly taken to resolve the problem. Frustrated by the prolonged neglect, residents eventually took to the streets and blocked the highway, demanding an immediate solution.
Following the blockade, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kamalpur, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of the Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS) department, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and other administrative officials rushed to the spot to assess the situation and hold discussions with the protesters.
State Minister Tinku Roy and Waqf Board Chairman Mabaswar Ali were also among those caught in the traffic congestion caused by the blockade.
The road remained blocked for several hours, causing considerable inconvenience to office-goers, passengers travelling to catch flights, ambulance services and government vehicles. Many commuters were forced to wait for an extended period, while emergency movement was also affected.
The blockade was finally withdrawn in the afternoon following assurances from Minister Tinku Roy and the administrative officials that necessary steps would be taken to address the drinking water problem.
However, the incident once again highlighted the hardship faced by residents of Saikabari, who have been struggling without an adequate drinking water supply for months.
