With Kolkata witnessing unusually chilly weather—the city saw temperatures in the 10-degree range early on Wednesday, a day after it recorded its coldest January day in 12 years—electronic shops are running out of room heaters as shopkeepers and distributors scramble to meet soaring demand.
“We have placed an order for room heaters and have been told that we will receive them in the next two or three days. Many people are asking for room heaters but are returning empty-handed,” the manager of a reputed electronics showroom in Salt Lake told The Indian Express. The showroom ran out of its room heater stock in the last two days, he added.
The sudden drop in temperatures has caught both residents and shopkeepers off guard, and with the demand for room heaters increasing in the last week, prices have also gone up.
“Demand is high, and supply is low, so prices are rising. Some branded room heaters that cost Rs 1,800 now cost Rs 2,200,” Snehasish Ghosh, the owner of an electronics shop in north Kolkata, said. On average, room heaters and blowers cost Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000.
Shopkeepers, he said, were encouraging people to buy branded room heaters. “Local brands have no warranty, so we are asking customers to buy branded heaters. Heaters are risky. While sleeping, if something falls on them and they catch fire, they could pose a huge risk,” he explained.
Sunil Rathi, who owns an electronics shop in Ezra Street, said he has never seen such high demand for heaters in the last few years. “I do not remember the last time I saw such a rush for room heaters. For many years, the temperatures had also not dipped…this time, it is below 10 degrees Celsius,” Rathi said.
With shops running out of heaters, many Kolkata residents like Sabyasachi Dutta are relying on woollens. “I had gone to get a room heater, but the shop owner said none are available. So, I bought three to four blankets, as temperatures are dropping drastically,” he added.
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
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State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
