CASH CLOG: The State Bank of India ATM at Koti in Hyderabad closed due to strike by employees. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Hyderabad: Salaried persons and pensioners continued to have a harrowing time with the State Bank of India (SBI) strike entering the third day on Wednesday. Banking operations and services remained crippled across the State. Account holders were seen running from one SBI ATM to another only to find the `no cash' board displayed.

The premier bank has 288 ATMs all over the State, including 80 in the twin cities. But most of them have closed down and in the city only 10 ATMs are functioning and they too are expected to go dry by night. The SBI serves some 5 lakh pensioners in the State and they are the worst hit.

However, the striking SBI staff seek to play down the problem by stating that most of the account holders have ATM cards and they can withdraw the money from other associate banks.

`Strike total'

"For the convenience of the customers we worked on Saturday and Sunday even though it was a holiday," said M.V. Murali, general secretary, SBI Staff Union. He further stated that no agitation could be carried out without inconvenience to others and wanted the customers to bear with it. All the 20,000 employees, including 6500 officers had stayed away from work. The indefinite strike is called to press for upward revision of the pension and family pension. Meanwhile, at the bank's head office in Koti, the employees gathered and raised slogans in support of their demands.

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