Residents and farmers staged a road blockade amid severe shortages of drinking water and irrigation facilities during the intense heat. 

The incident took place at Dhaliyai Masterpara area under Sonamura Nagar Panchayat.

According to reports, although there is a machine available for irrigation in the area, it remains out of order for most of the year. As a result, around 60 to 70 farmers are facing serious difficulties in carrying out cultivation. Frustrated over the prolonged neglect of the issue, the affected people blocked the Sonamura–Agartala main road at around 9:30 am on Thursday.

The blockade, which lasted for nearly two hours, completely disrupted vehicular movement on the route.

Upon receiving information, police from Sonamura Police Station rushed to the spot under the leadership of Officer-in-Charge Tapas Das. Vice-Chairperson of Sonamura Nagar Panchayat Shahajan Mia and SDO of the Irrigation Department, Melaghar Sub-Division, Sanjib Saha, also reached the location.

Later, after the administration assured that the problem would be resolved within a week, the protesters withdrew the blockade, and normal traffic resumed.