Patna, Oct. 24: Cracker shops are witnessing a slump in sales this Diwali. Reason: prices of famous brands have gone up by around 50 per cent in comparison to last year.

While shopkeepers are complaining they have purchased crackers at more than double the rate (wholesale) they paid last year, the buyers are finding the prices way beyond their budget.

Rizwan Khan, a shopkeeper, cited two reasons for the soaring prices. First, wholesale shops of crackers remained closed for 10 days, after which shopkeepers decided to make up for the loss by hiking the cost. Second, heavy rain in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, where crackers are manufactured, led to rise in cost price.

Abdul Wahab, a shopkeeper who has been selling crackers in New Market since 1950, said: “A carton carrying 250 packets of bidi (a kind of cracker) used to cost Rs 5,100 till last year. Now, the same carton costs us Rs 12,000 and that too when we bought our stocks before Dussehra.” Each packet of bidi, containing 100 pieces, is now being sold for Rs 45 unlike last year when they were priced at Rs 30.

Wahab said: “Twinkling stars or rassi cost me Rs 10 (wholesale) last year. This year I had to purchase them for Rs 15 per packet.” Twinkling stars are available for Rs 20 per packet in the market.

Another shopkeeper Sonu said: “We used to sell sparklers for Rs 12 last year. Now, we are compelled to sell sparklers for Rs 18 per packet.”

“The prices would have been even higher but keeping the customers’ budget in mind, we did not hike the rates to that extent,” Sonu added.

“Despite this, the demand for crackers has come down by 50 per cent this year as compared to last year,” Sonu said.

Another shopkeeper said Aasman tara (rocket) was ava-ilable at Rs 60 per box last year but now it is priced at Rs 100.

Buyers, particularly children, are disheartened over the high cost. While few have dropped the idea of purchasing crackers, most of them have decided to cut down the quantity of crackers this year.

Abhay Kumar, a student, said: “Bursting crackers is an expensive exercise. The high prices make me feel as if I am lighting fire to hard cash. I ha-ve decided to buy crackers but not as much as last year.”