SBI makes some branches, ATMs functional in flood-hit Kashmir

Country's biggest lender State Bank of India (SBI) today said it has made 27 branches and 83 ATMs functional for the convenience of people in the Kashmir valley, though loss assessment because of devastating floods was yet to be ascertained.
"We have been able to make some of the branches functional in Kashmir and likewise, some ATMs have also been operationalised," a senior official of SBI told PTI today.
Banking operations at 67 branches of SBI in Kashmir were paralysed following the floods in Jammu and Kashmir.
With a total business of Rs 3,000 crore, SBI has a total of 67 branches and 218 ATMs in the valley.

"Rest of the branches and ATMs are yet to be made functional as water has not receded fully," he said, adding that branches are being run on electricity generators in the absence of power.
SBI has also decided to press mobile ATMs into service to enable people to withdraw cash.

"We are bringing 3 mobile ATMs from Delhi and 4 such ATMs from Lucknow which will be placed at strategic places in Kashmir valley for allowing people to withdraw cash," he said, adding that in a single day, cash amounting to Rs 30 lakh was disbursed from functional ATMs in Kashmir.

In order to provide connectivity for operationalising more branches and ATMs, SBI is also procuring VSAT system because of non-functional telecom lines.
"We are procuring VSATs (used for transmitting data) for more branches so as to make branches and ATMs functional as telecom network has not operationalised fully in the valley," he said.
Asked about loss caused by floods to bank's property, the SBI official said that the total loss assessment was yet to be made, saying the bank's priority at this moment was to make branches functional.
"Definitely, loss has taken place because of floods but loss assessment could not be made yet. Once water level recedes, the total loss will be assessed," he said.

It is also feared that the cash in some of the ATMs which got submerged in the flooded water might have been destroyed.
Asked about bank employees, he said the employees have started coming to branches.
SBI has a network of 177 branches in Jammu and Kashmir.