Stampede at a bank in Andhra, two injured

Two persons were injured when stampede broke out at a bank in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district on Saturday.

Glass doors and window panes of the bank were also damaged.

The incident occurred at State of India's branch at Palakollu town in West Godavari district. The stampede broke out as several people who were standing in queues barged in when the bank opened for the day.

Two customers sustained injuries in the incident. Fearing violence, bank officials stopped transactions. The situation was controlled with the intervention of police.

Utter chaos were seen at banks across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for another day. Government and private employees and pensioners suffered for third consecutive day.

Though the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) infused Rs 2,420 crore and Rs 1,600 crore cash in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Friday, there was not much improvement in the situation.

People lined up before the banks since early morning. Many banks ran out of cash within couple of hours.

Employees and pensioners complained that despite the governments' direction to banks to pay them Rs 10,000 cash from their salaries and pensions deposited in their accounts, the banks were not giving them more than Rs 4,000 or Rs 6,000. Despite the announcement that there will be separate counters, they were made to stand in common queues.

The elderly men and women were the worst-hit. At many places they were seen sitting on the ground to wait. Many returned disappointed as the banks ran out of money before their turn came.

There was no improvement in functioning of ATMs. Few were dispensing cash but were going dry within no time as hundreds were standing with the hope of drawing at least Rs.2,000.

--IANS

ms/vd