Dry ATMs in Tura dampen Christmas cheer

TURA: People with angst writ large on their faces waiting in long queues outside a few operational SBI ATMs is an unlikely sight a few days before Christmas. But not in this Garo Hills town.
Several automated teller machines in Tura are running dry for the last few days and people are at their wit’s end before the festival as they cannot withdraw money.
On Wednesday, customers had to turn away from the Araimile branch of the ATM that did not have cash in it. Bank officials said it was due to link disruption that prevented the cash flow.
The situation has since deteriorated with other ATMs in the town joining the dry run.
By Thursday evening, cash had run out of the SBI ATMs at some of the busiest centres like at the main SBI branch, the Chandmari branch and the Municipal Market ATM.
The ATM installed at the Deputy Commissioner’s office has been non-functional for several weeks.
The two functional ATMs with cash at Sundari Hotel and opposite Thakurbari point were crowded on Thursday evening.
There is apprehension that the situation could further deteriorate once government and other employees get their salaries credited to their accounts in time before Christmas.
To make matters worse, the banks will soon close for holidays. Authorities do not have an answer to who will monitor or refill the empty trays of the ATM cash slots during the winter vacation. Attempts to contact the regional SBI office in Tura were unsuccessful as calls went unanswered on Thursday.