If the strike drags on for that long, vegetables may be out of reach for the common man.

The nation-wide transporters strike entered the fourth day on Thursday with both truckers and government refusing to stand down from their stated positions.

“It is unfortunate that so far there is no response from the government. We simply cannot run our business in losses, so we are continuing the strike and we will continue till our demands are met,” All India Motor Transport Congress President Charan Singh Lohara told reporters.

The ongoing nationwide strike of transporters has jacked up prices of essential commodities in Chandigarh. Prices of pulses, vegetables and fruits have spiraled and with the truckers strike showing no signs of ending soon, it is the common man who will suffer.

Chandigarh’s largest vegetable market has only small vendors coming in these days and they say that the truckers strike has made prices shoot up, which their customers are not willing to pay. They also blame the big players of hoarding vegetables.

Prices of food items, including coarse cereals, vegetables and fruits, are reported to have remained steady in the wholesale market across the country. However, key spot markets for commodities like sugar, potato and maize remained closed as the strike crippled supplies of these goods leading to a rise in prices.

Truckers went on an indefinite strike since Sunday midnight to press for reduction in diesel prices, exemption in service and toll taxes and a single permit for nation-wide transportation among others, affecting transportation in various parts of the country.