Empty bank vaults spreads distress in Anekal

Banks in Anekal put up sign boards that read “No cash available”, “No exchange of notes” and “No withdrawal of cash” as their vaults ran out of money, the Times of India reported.

People waiting in serpentine queues were taken aback by the move and complained of being inconvenienced for days now. 

Farmers, who had no cash to buy provisions were distressed and helpless. “We suffered for five days with ATMs not dispensing cash. I was hopeful of getting Rs 10,000 now, even banks are of no use,” Yele Gowda, a farmer from Iggaluru village near Anekal told TOI. 

Bank managers said that there has been no supply of money to their currency chest. “I heard chests across the country are empty. It is unrealistic to expect the situation to improve in a day or two,” said a branch manager of a nationalized bank.

A family had been depositing money since the last 10 months for their daughter’s wedding on November 18 and wanted to withdraw their savings. They even showed the bank manager the wedding invitation and pleaded with the manage. 

“I was helpless said the bank manager. There is no cash available even to comply with the withdrawal limit,” said the manager.