Cooler business feels the heat of curfew

Nagpur: The cooler business, a big part of Nagpur's summer, has been taking multiple body blows since the year 2020 and now yet again, the curfew has impacted their peak season sale. Centered around the curfew impacted areas, cooler sale season is short and March to April is when the bulk of buying happens. Rakesh Awachat, director of Ram Coolers, said, "In the year 2020 we got hit by Covid lockdown. In 2021, the second wave started in summer, so that was second strike for us. In 2022, we saw some normalcy, but then in 2023 unseasonal and prolonged rains kept the weather cool even in April and to some extent in May." In 2024, rains hit after holi and the buying decision was put off by Nagpurians. And when 2025 seemed to be perfect for sales, riots rocked central Nagpur and busy market areas now find themselves under curfew. "Sales have plummeted by 90% for most of us," said Awachat. "Major part of Central Avenue, Gandhi Bagh, Itwari etc are the localities where the business is centered. Even small shops, garages in various districts of Vidarbha get their supply from these markets, hence the entire chain has got disturbed," he added. Weddings are big business in India, and in Nagpur majority of the cloth suppliers, tailors are located in these areas, thus hampering overall business sentiments.