Patna: Waterlogging dampens shopping spree

PATNA: The unprecedented rain in the city from September 27 to 29 and its aftermath have dampened the Dhanteras shopping spree. So claim automobile and furniture traders, who are witnessing a decline in the number of bookings this time.

“The sale of cars during Dhanteras constitutes almost 40% of the total annual sales.

However, we have received only five bookings so far against last year’s 35. We hope the sales will improve in the next few days,” the manager of a private automobile showroom on New Bypass Road told this newspaper on Tuesday.

Another automobile showroom on Boring Canal Road has witnessed a 70% decline in the number of four-wheeler bookings. “Cars are not being sold as a lot of people are still affected by waterlogging. Let’s see what happens,” said R K Singh, the director of the showroom.

Similar claims were made by Rohit Kumar, a senior executive in the sales department of a private automobile showroom on Ashok Rajpath. He pointed out, “Even if people plan to buy a car, they will not be able to keep it as there is water on roads, lanes and even in garages. We have few bookings, but the buyers have not fixed any delivery date.”

Some car dealers are also getting orders from outside Patna. S K Singh, general manager of a four-wheeler showroom located on Ashiana-Digha Road said, “Most bookings have been made by customers from outside the city.”

Furniture traders are not happy either. Vidya Sharan Upadhyay, the proprietor of a furniture shop in Kumhrar, said no furniture had been sold so far.

Patnaites, on the other hand, are still trying to deal with the losses they incurred due to waterlogging during the last few days. Pataliputra Colony resident Anand Singh asked, “Am I supposed to clean the mess in my house or buy a new car and furniture?”

However, the sale of electronic appliances like TV, microwave and refrigerator has witnessed an increase. “A lot of people, whose appliances were damaged because of waterlogging, have booked electronic items. Many are buying new TV sets and refrigerators,” said Ajay Kumar Singh, the executive of an electronic showroom near Income Tax roundabout.