Guwahati, May 27 -- Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha

Doomdooma: Climate change and rising fuel prices are affecting thousands of tea workers in Assam as the cost of bamboo baskets, an essential tool for tea plucking, continues to rise across tea gardens in Upper Assam.

Frequent storms and heavy rainfall over the past few years have damaged bamboo plantations in several parts of the state. This has reduced the supply of quality bamboo traditionally used to make tea baskets.

Basket makers in Tinsukia district said they are now forced to bring bamboo from distant areas and neighbouring states. This has increased transportation costs due to higher petrol and diesel prices.

"We have never faced such difficulty in bringing bamboo earlier. Trans...