The ongoing protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has hit both locals and tourists in Assam.

The prices of vegetables have soared in the city because supply from outside, especially from Kharupetia, Dalgaon and Barpeta Road, has almost stopped or remain disrupted because of the ongoing protests.

A vegetable wholesaler in Gorchuk here said, “Guwahati needs 10 to12 metric tonnes of vegetables everyday. In the past three days, only 5 to 6 metric tonnes of vegetables came to Guwahati. Prices are increasing as stocks have plummeted.”

Thursday’s bandh saw prices go up by at least 20 per cent, he said.

The protests have also hit tourists visiting or leaving the city since several trains and flights were cancelled.

Gauhati University students had blocked National Highway 27, which connects the city and the airport near the campus. Most petrol pumps are closed since Tuesday, hitting commuters.

Stranded tourists/commuters were seen checking into hotels near the station and airport with sources suggesting they are running out of rooms.

Anupam Bora, general secretary of Assam Hotel Association, said, “It is tourist season in Assam now. Most of the hotels are full. We don’t know the exact number of stranded tourists who have checked into nearby hotels. Assam receives about 20,000 tourists everyday. Hotels have stock for seven to 10 days.”

If the protests do no subside, the city could be staring at a water and LPG crises as well.