It's pitch dark

Unscheduled power cuts during the exam season have led to record sales in candles, as Bangaloreans start hoarding them to beat the blackout

DEEPTHI M R



As a source of light, candles are cheap and reliable and they are suddenly in short supply in Bangalore. With the state crippled by power shortage and homes plunging into darkness, buying candles has become a daily ordeal for Bangaloreans these days. So much so that people have begun to hoard candles as there seems to be no relief in sight from the worsening power crisis.
Retailers say that the sale of candles has gone up to about 10 kilos a week from what used to be a negligible amount when there were fewer power cuts. Speaking about the increase in sales, a retailer of a Buy and Save outlet in Rajajinagar 1st Block said: “Bangalore is a city where candles move slowly. People don’t buy candles unless there are power cuts. We did not have any sales till last fortnight, but now sales have shop up to 10 kilograms a week.” The demand has been triggered mainly by students who are either writing their final examinations or are preparing to face them. Thank you Sirji for the good old candle
STOCKING UP
“My sister is writing her ICSE examination and it is really sad to see her struggle in candle-light. It strains her, but we have no other choice. There is no point in cursing the ministers and babus for the present situation, but we are grateful to the one who discovered the candle,” said Raghunath Rao, a techie and resident of Hongasandra off Hosur Road, hardly bothering to conceal the sarcasm. With emergency lamps not viable since power-cuts seem to be random and are of quite long durations, Rao is stocking up on candles.
“Now that the exams have started, we are selling more candles than before. We have sold over 80 candles (each costing Rs 2) in the last one week. Due to increase in demand, the rates of candles have also shot up,” said stationery shop owner Narasimhaiah.
The wholesale market has also seen a steep raise in candle sales. “Candles were sold only on Fridays and Sundays near churches in the city. People hardly bought candles otherwise. But that has changed now. Due to unscheduled power cuts, there has been a rise of 25 to 30 per cent in candle sales. This is the only time when candles are sold in Bangalore. Although I have operations in other states in like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Bangalore is the only city where no one buys candles when there is enough power. Commercial candle manufacturing requires Rs 35,000 investment. Because of power cuts, we can see some profits now,” said Raghavendra, Proprietor, Ultra India, a candle manufacturing company.
Other traders want the government to reduce tax on paraffin wax till the state tides over the power crisis. The power situation, Bescom officials hint, would only worsen in future. Currently, Bangalore has been getting 27 million units of power everyday though the demand is 32 million units.





With emergency lamps not viable since powercuts seem to be random and of long duration, people are stocking up on candles