The exercise to withdraw money from banks ATMs across India is increasingly turning into a nightmare after reports of ATMs running out of money or becoming dysfunctional emerged from several parts of the country on Friday. In some parts of Delhi, the Rapid Action Force had to be deployed in anticipation of possible violence, as reported by India Today.
Here’s the situation in some parts of the country.
Delhi: Long queues outside banks and ATMs were witnessed on the second day this morning as people rushed to exchange their demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes with new ones and withdrew cash which caused hardship to them.
Delhi Police has beefed up security in banks and ATMs in view of the expected rush even as residents fumed over the idea of waiting in long queues on a working day.
India Today reported the deployment of Rapid Action Force in some parts of the national capital.
ATMs run out of cash in a couple of hours after opening, RAF deployed to manage crowds #CashRush #CurrencyExchange https://t.co/v3VU2mgjRy
— seemi pasha (@seemi_pasha) November 11, 2016
However, people at many of the automated teller machines (ATMs) were agitated finding that there is no cash. Bank officials said ATMs have not stocked up yet.
In anticipation of getting cash, people including women and elderly persons had gathered at ATMs in their localities but were upset after finding that it was yet to be stocked up in the machines.
“I had woke up at 4 AM and rushed to the ATM to get cash but found that there was already a crowd who were complaining that there was no cash,” said IP Extension resident, 62-year-old Vimla Devi.
Gujarat: Panic-stricken citizens queued outside banks, post offices and ATMs across Gujarat on the second consecutive day to get new currency notes in exchange of their now defunct bills following Centres move of demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
People in dire need of lower denomination currency and new banknotes to pay for their daily expenses started rushing to the ATMs, which began functioning today after a break of two days, since early morning.
Since ATMs were supposed to start dispensing cash from today, many decided to queue up outside ATMs hoping to get easy cash rather than visiting banks and POs.
However, many ATMs ran out of cash within hours while many others did not open at all, thus adding to the frustation of people.
Mumbai: Facing shortage of cash for last two days, people in the country’s financial capital and its suburbs rushed to ATM counters on Friday, witnessing long queues of residents anxious to withdraw some money to meet their daily expenses.
ATMs of various banks in south Mumbai, Lalbaugh, Parel, Dadar, Andheri, Ghatkopar and Mulund were found to be out of service and not dispensing money, forcing people to return empty-handed.
Early in the morning, shutters of some ATMs of State Bank of India, Lakshmi Vilas Bank, HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, Yes Bank and Dena Bank in suburban Mulund in Mumbai were down, while some went dry.
Ajeet Singh, a media professional, said when he went to an ATM in suburban Andheri, he found it closed. On enquiring with a bank executive, the latter suggested him to come after an hour or two.
Mahrashtra: IANS reported that lakhs of people in Maharashtra were disappointed as thousands of ATMs did not dispense cash.
Reports of ATMs running out of cash or simply becoming dysfunctional came from several parts of Mumbai including Dadar, Worli, Kandivali, Ghatkopar. Similar reports emerged from Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik, Ratnagiri and other parts of the state.
(With inputs from PTI)
