Money in the bank, but no cash as ATMs are dry!
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 13 2024: With curfew imposed, ATM booths across the valley districts have run out of cash thereby giving additional burden to the already suffering people.

What aggravates the financial burden of the common people is the closure of all banks due to the imposition of curfew leaving the people with not a single option to withdraw money from their accounts.

The Sangai Express took out an inspection tour and saw several people running hither, tither searching for an ATM with cash.

They all returned home empty handed with many of them visibly dejected.

The cash crunch has been worsened by the ban of mobile internet as online transaction is as common as cash payment these days.

Money is in the bank accounts but the people can neither withdraw money from ATMs nor buy their needs through online transaction.

From what The Sangai Express has learnt majority of the people still don't have any access to internet though the Government issued a notice yesterday saying that broadband service has been restored.

Speaking to this reporter, a man who was at the ATM booth at Babupara said that he was coming to withdraw cash to buy medicines for his mother and some grocery.

He said that he checked dozens of ATMs but none of them had any cash.

Saying that he also couldn't go to a bank to withdraw cash as all banks are closed due to the imposition of curfew, the person added that not being able to buy medicines for his ailing mother despite having money in the bank is deeply frustrating.

He asked how he can ask for money from friends or relatives when all common people are facing the same problem as he has.

The Government is torturing the people, he said visibly angry over the curfew and snapping internet services which affect day to day activities of the common people.

He expressed desire for the Government to allow at least some banks to be opened so that they can check whether the ATMs have cash or not regularly.

Giving additional burden to the already suffering people is nothing short of torture, he fumed.

Like many others, he too returned home empty handed without the cash he had wished to withdraw.

Another person at the ATM at Singjamei said he was coming to withdraw money to pay the tuition fee for his daughter.

Like the previous person, he also said that he had gone to many ATM booths but none of them had any cash before going away from the place possibly in search of another ATM booth.

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