Long queues outside banks, ATMs continue

Long queues of customers continued outside the majority of bank branches and ATMs in Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh for the third day today for the exchange and withdrawal of cash.
Harried customers stood in the serpentine queue waiting for their turn to withdraw cash even as cash dispensing machines at several places ran out of money, leading to frustration among people.
At some places, ATMs failed to function as the cash was yet to be filled into the machines.
The cash in several ATMs, which were filled up today, exhausted soon after due to large number of people trying to get cash from branches or ATMs.

People at some places even lost calm waiting for long while elderly people and women could be seen standing in a long queue for exchange and withdrawal of cash.
Customers who managed to withdraw Rs 2,000 denomination notes also felt harassed as some small shops, fuel pumps refused to accept high denomination notes in the absence of sufficient amount of change.

The customers, including women, started reaching bank branches and ATMs early in the morning as they were facing problems in purchasing day to day items, including vegetables and milk.
At several post offices, no cash was available with them for the disbursements to people.

Bank officials said additional counters have been opened to facilitate customers.
Banks have deployed extra staff at bank branches to facilitate customers so that they should not face any harassment.