Berhampur, Oct. 17: Subramanyam Swamy’s mobile phones have ceased to function as their batteries have run out and he cannot recharge them due to power cut prevailing on the city for the past six days.

Similar is the case with about three lakh cell phone users in the city.

However, the cell phone users’ plight has paid dividend to some generator owners, who are running those with kerosene and connecting more than 50 plug points to recharge the mobile phone batteries. Now, Berhampur street corners are brimming with these stopgap traders, who are running a brisk business.

“We are charging Rs 20 an hour per cell phone for recharge and there has been a mad rush from morning to evening,” said Manoj Prusty of Park Street. Phailin has come as a blessing in disguise for him.

The recharge business is being carried out at more than 1,500 makeshift stalls here with specially built boards of plug sockets, Prusty said.

The recharge rate became Rs 10 an hour soon after the cyclone hit the coast and Berhampur plunged into darkness. Later, the rate increased to Rs 30. But now, it has come down to Rs 20 as competition picks up among the generator set owners, he said.

However, the real trouble revolves around the availability of kerosene. “The price of kerosene has shot up from Rs 40 to Rs 60 a litre in black market. At times, we are forced to collect kerosene from Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

The price of a China-made generator set, which earlier cost Rs 15,000, has almost doubled, he said.

However, Sanjib Mohan Palo, an insurance agent of Co-operative Colony at Kamapalli is satisfied with the service available. “At least I’m able to recharge my mobile amid such a worst condition and able to talk to my customers and relatives,” he said.

Some diesel pump sets are also being used to lift water from bore wells to the overhead tanks. “But, the charge is Rs 1,000 per hour. The tank is on the second floor of my house. As I can’t lift the water manually from the bore well, I was forced to opt for a pump set on rent,” Palo said.