With no end to electricity woes on sight, residents of the capital city, grappling with acute power shortage after cyclone Fani, are now looking for other unconventional modes of power.
In order to meet day-to-day requirements especially during the night hours, people have begun to use battery-charged lights and solar devices following which electrical shops are witnessing heavy rush of customers.
Keeping the huge demand in view,traders and shopkeepers have opened up stalls at several places and are selling China-made battery-operated lights, solar lights and fans.
People of Bhubaneswar had never expected to face such times of distress. Since 11 KV power lines have been snapped we believe that electricity restoration may not be possible for few more days, so we are forced to depend on battery and solar lights for safety during night time, said a resident.
Demand of lights and their rates have increased so much that we are not able to provide enough materials, said a shopkeeper.