Yaqut Ali 
New Delhi: The only railway station in Manipur has been non-operational for passengers since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3, 2023, Right to Information answers received by The Wire has revealed.
The Wire had also asked what the status of the Khongsang railway station was and if it is operational for passenger trains. To this, authorities said that passenger train services have been suspended since May 3, 2023. “As of now, the station remains non-operational.”
The Khongsang railway station, authorities said in the RTI reply, was opened to the public on October 13, 2022 and for goods trains on August 4, 2022. Thus, although it became operational in 2022, it could only function for less than a year.
In June 2023, a month after the violence broke out, Union home minister Amit Shah, while addressing reporters in Imphal, had mentioned the station and spoken of improving connection to the state.
“Khongsang railway station is not fully operational yet, but the railway line is ready. Therefore, we have decided to set up a temporary platform at Khongsang railway station to facilitate aid from other parts of the country. I believe that within the next 3-4 days, the issue of shortages will be resolved.”
However, it was only on July 13, 2024, that chief minister Biren Singh announced on X the arrival of the first consignments of food and cement at Khongsang – 13 months after Shah’s assurance to the people of Manipur.
Leader of Opposition Keisham Meghachandra Singh has strongly criticised both the Union and state governments over this. He stated, “Khongsang Railway Station is the lifeline of Manipur, yet both the Centre and State have failed to keep this lifeline alive.”
Speaking to The Wire, Meghachandra pointed out that even though supplies have resumed, significant challenges persist. He emphasised that a direct rail link from Khongsang to Imphal is yet to become operational, forcing all essential goods to be transported by road. This dependence on road transport, he claims, has led to multiple logistical hurdles, including security concerns, road blockades, and supply disruptions.
No medical supply to hills
The health care system is strong in the capital city of Imphal, largely thanks to connectivity.
The Kuki Students’ Organisation leader Kennedy told The Wire that the government has not been sending adequate medical supplies for Kuki-Zo people in relief camps in the Hill Area. “We are getting proper food supplies for relief camps but not enough medical supplies. People are coming to us and asking for medicines. I request the Union government to send medicines for our people,” he said.
Improving the medical system in the Hills by sending doctors on a rotational basis was also one of the key promises Shah had made during the press conference on June 1, 2023. The Wire had reported how at least 35 people in the state had died due to a lack of medicines and proper medical treatment.
The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which began in May 2023, further escalated in Jiribam in mid-2024, adding to the already fragile situation in Manipur. What initially started as localised violence quickly spread across districts, with Jiribam becoming one of the latest flashpoints. Clashes between the two communities intensified, leading to the displacement of hundreds of families, the destruction of homes, and a growing humanitarian crisis. Reports of targeted killings, arson, and sporadic gunfire became more frequent, further deepening the communal divide.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern of ethnic strife in the region, which has resulted in at least 258 deaths across Manipur since the conflict began. The protracted violence has also led to widespread economic disruptions, with blockades and transport restrictions affecting the supply of essential goods, worsening the humanitarian impact.