MUMBAI/HYDERABAD: The scramble for cash spawned by demonetisation a week ago assumed frantic proportions today as people descended outside banks in droves in the wee hours fearing ATMs may run dry and another death of an elderly man standing in queue being reported from Hyderabad.
Tens of thousands of people lined up hours before banks opened in towns and cities across the country to exchange or deposit or withdraw money, a day after a public holiday in several states, even as the grim situation showed no signs of abating. Small businesses also continued to be hit hard with lack of patrons who were scurrying for small change.
Laxman Rao, a retired Government employee who came alone to Marredpally branch of a state-run bank in Hyderabad to deposit Rs 1.5 lakh, collapsed at the bank’s entrance.
“He collapsed on the bank’s entrance steps and the policemen on duty immediately shifted him to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Zone) B Sumathi told reporters.
“He died of heart-ailment…He had once earlier suffered a heart-attack and had been operated upon,” the DCP said based on preliminary investigation. He was native of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh.
As banks opened after a day’s break, Mumbai and suburbs witnessed greater scramble for cash with people making a beeline before banks and ATMs to exchange old currency notes and withdraw cash for essential expenses.
The BJP-led Government in Maharashtra decided to set up a cabinet sub-committee to recommend further measures to mitigate the hardships of the people due to demonetisation.
“The cabinet meeting reviewed the situation arising out of the Centre’s move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes,” an official in the Chief Minister’s office said. (AGENCIES)
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