A customer checks out a heater at a shop at Chandni Chowk market in Patna. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Dec. 15: The dip in the mercury has sent residents rushing to electronic appliance showrooms to pick up heaters and blowers.

Electric heating gadgets such as blowers, heaters, geysers and immersion rods are in demand. “Halogen heaters are most in demand as they consume only 400watts as against the traditional rod-equipped heater, which consumes 1,000watts. Though the halogen heaters are priced at the higher end, people prefer them as the gadgets are sleek, effective and safe,” saidMukul, owner of Rajesh Electrical at Chandni Chowk market near Patna Junction.

Asked about sale of electric gadgets, he said: “It’s too early to say that the sale records are very high keeping in mind the chill in the air. We are selling about three to four units per day. But we are certain that our business will start picking up from the last week of December. Cold wave sweeps through the state during the period.”

Mukul said electrical gadgets come in two varieties. There are branded items made by companies such as Bajaj, Khaitan and Usha. Then there is the second category — the gadgets that are made locally and are quite cheap. While a branded rod-equipped heater costs anything between Rs 450 and Rs 600, the local variety comes at anything between Rs 150 and Rs 300.

Prices of branded geysers differs in terms of the their capacity to store water. One has to shell out anything between Rs 5,500 and Rs 9,000. But the ones coming without a brand name cost between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,500, the shop owner said.

Branded blowers are being sold between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500, whereas non-branded products are available in the range of Rs 900 to Rs 1,500. Similarly, a quality halogen heater, that consumes less power in comparison to traditional rod-equipped heaters, comes with a price tag of Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,500. The indigenous heaters are available between Rs 400 and Rs 1,800.

Ajay Kumar, a resident of Barh who also owns a shop, said: “There is a huge demand of blowers and heaters in our town. I used to sell two to three blowers and heaters a day. There has been a sudden spurt in their demand for these items. Suresh Kumar, a customer said: “The cold weather has made life difficult, particularly at night and that’s why I am here to buy a halogen heater which is safer and economical.”