ATM Smashed At Sultan Bazar; Withdrawal Limits End, Cash Not Found
Hyderabad: Irated by a constant appearance of 'No Cash' boards at banks and ATMs for over a week, a customer smashed an ATM center at Sultan Bazar on Tuesday. Even as the RBI lifted all limits on cash withdrawal from saving accounts, banks and ATMs across the city have gone dry.
One Hamid Khan of Santosh Nagar got frustrated with the non-availability of cash at Federal Bank and Indian Bank ATMs in Sultan Bazar as he was to pay traffic challan today. He broke the glass doors of both the ATM centers. He was then taken into custody by police. Hamid also received injuries when he broke the glass panes.
Cash Woes Continue
"On my way to office, I dropped my wife at an ATM to withdraw some cash and go home. She called me after a few minute by which time I was near my office only to tell me that there was no cash in the ATM where I dropped her and also any other machine around the place. As she had no cash even to go back home, I had to rush back and arrange some cash from a neighbor for an emergency at home," said KS Reddy, a senior journalist.
Though the cash crunch is continuing for over a week now, no remedial measures are being taken by banks. In fact, banks are sending back customers by bluntly saying there is no cash in the branch. Most ATMs in city remained closed since March 1.
People who expected sufficient availability of cash from Tuesday, as the RBI announced the lifting of all withdrawal limits from March 14, are getting frustrated over the troubles faced due to lack of cash.