Dehradun, May 22 -- As the country grapples with consecutive fuel price hikes triggered by conflicts in West Asia and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Dehradun has joined several Indian cities facing a sharp spike in the cost of essential commodities due to inflation in the country.

The increased freight and transportation charges have heavily pinched the pockets of the common citizen, thus driving up retail rates in the city. As a result, the prices of food items across Dehradun have escalated sharply within just a single week.

Over the past week, the costs of daily items ranging from food grains to milk and curd have also increased across the city, with the surge in petrol and diesel rates cited as the primary driver behind the in...