The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Beat the power cut for a couple of hundreds

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 09, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Beat the power cut for a couple of hundreds

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Power crisis: A vendor selling emergency lamps at Rajajinagar in Bangalore.

Bangalore: The current spell of rain may have improved the storage levels in hydel reservoirs but power cuts are still continuing.

Those with deep pockets invest in a UPS to beat those long hours of no electricity. Those whose budget is limited opt for emergency lights, which generally cost Rs. 1,000 upwards in shops.

Cashing in on this demand are several enterprising businessmen who set up shop on pavements in the evening selling the emergency lights.

Gnanendar K., a resident of Nandini Layout, said that he had visited several shops to buy a branded emergency light.

“The power supply is erratic in the evening and at night. When I went to the shop to buy a light, I was told it was out of stock.”

Considering the light was an emergency, he looked around and spotted a man selling some on the pavement near Rajajinagar. “He told me that he sells at least 30 lights between 6.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. every day. Although there is no warranty or guarantee, these emergency lights serve the purpose. When fully charged, they work for at least two hours,” said Mr. Gnanendar. These lights are priced between Rs. 200 and Rs. 400. “Most middle-class households who can’t spend thousands on a UPS are buying these emergency lights,” he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka