Non-functional J&K Bank ATM outside Tral Sub-District Hospital sparks outrage

Tral, Sep 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Bank ATM installed outside Sub-District Hospital Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district has remained closed for the past 23 days, causing serious inconvenience to patients and their attendants who frequently require cash in medical emergencies.

Locals said that the ATM’s shutter has been down and locked for more than three weeks without any explanation from the authorities. Despite repeated pleas to the concerned bank officials, no corrective action has been taken. The situation has left people, especially attendants of patients, exasperated.

“Whenever a patient is referred to Srinagar from Tral hospital, attendants are in urgent need of cash. But the ATM has been lying shut for so many days that we have to run from pillar to post to arrange money,” said a local waiting outside the hospital. Another attendant described the condition as “utter negligence” on part of the bank, saying that despite multiple complaints, no one seems to be listening. [KNT]