Did media lie about currency woes? B'luru man checks 23 ATMs to find out

At most places, Tinu Cherian was met with “No cash” boards or closed shutters.

news Demonetisation

Are you one of those people who is torn apart by conflicting opinions on demonetisation, and is wondering what the merit of these arguments are?

While the media is reporting on the cash crunch across the country, Tinu Cherian Abraham, a Bengaluru-based social media influencer says, a conflicting narrative is appearing on social media, with a number of users hailing the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes, dispelling any news about hardships it posed to the general public.

Tinu decided to verify for himself what the real picture is at ATMs in Bengaluru.

On Sunday, Tinu, an active social media user, posted real time tweets on what the situation was at 23 ATMs in Bengaluru.

Speaking to The News Minute, Tinu Cherian says he set off at 10.30am with the ATM trail taking him a little over 6 hours.

"It was an impromptu plan on a Sunday. Under normal circumstances, all the ATMs in the city should be working and I decided to do a status check. As my tweets carried the time and details of the ATMs, there was no reason for any kind of ambiguity in them," he said.

Covering the trail mostly on foot, he went to ATMs in and around Whitefield and KR Puram.

At most places, Tinu Cherian was met with “No cash” boards or closed shutters. At others, it was either the long, winding queues or the machines that dispensed only Rs 2000 notes that he came across.

It was not before the 5th ATM he went to, that he came across a functioning machine.

Of the 23 ATMs Tinu Cherian went to, only 4 ATMs were functioning, faithful to the boards that promised the ATM would work 24x7.

He concluded his experiment by 3:44pm, unable to go on any further as he was exhausted and dehydrated.

Though he supports the government's decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, Tinu Cherian says that the hardships it has caused the common man cannot be justified.

They say ATMs r running normal. Thought to withdraw some money and perhaps do a reality check if media is 'spreading lies'. #DeMonetisation — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

Stop 3 : Another @HDFC_Bank 24 hrs ATM. Shutter was half down. No security. Tried the card. didn't dispense any cash. Errored out. pic.twitter.com/bYZ6NOpJcL — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

Stop 4 : @ICICIBank 24 Hrs ATM - next to Golden Blossoms Apts #Bengaluru - shutter down - 'ATM services are currently unavailable' . pic.twitter.com/yXQLDYEz26 — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

Stop 5 : @canarabanktweet Sri Satya Sai Ashram ATM - Have Cash - queue of 40 - 50 ppl. First Cash available of 1/5 ATMs visited pic.twitter.com/JMIYPZLz1f — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

Stop 7 : @HDFC_Bank ATM opp to #Whitefield station - Shutters Down pic.twitter.com/InMflaoTiP — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

Stop 9 : Bank Of Maharashtra #Seegehalli Branch ATM - shutters down - not sure if this ATM operates 24hrs . #ATMtrail #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/X4ZmfjIWsr — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

Stop 10 : @karurvysyabank next to Nitesh Forest Hills - 'out of service' . I have never seen this ATM ever closed #ATMTrail #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/HGJeAZ17O5 — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

Stop 12 - @ICICIBank Kannamangala Branch - 24 hour ATM - shutters down - security guard said no cash . #ATMTrail #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/G7bIAGtjEH — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

Stop 15 - @SBTonline #Whitefield RAC PC Branch ATM-CASH available - Only 2000 Rs notes -less than 10 ppl in the queue. #ATMtrail #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/uCAi2EDqDJ — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

Stop 17 : @CanarabankIndia ATM Pai Layout, K R Puram - has cash . Only 2000 Rs notes.Checked with ppl in the queue . #ATMTrail #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/KoJ6dna2eU — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

ATM 18 : @ICICIBank off 1st main Road Pai Layout K R Puram - ' NO Cash- Sorry' #ATMtrail #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/m6Hrt2lZUj — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

ATM 20 : @HDFC_Bank 2nd Main Pai Layout K R Puram - 'Temporarily Out of Service' . #ATMtrail #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/ML2dTqEuI3 — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016

ATM 23 : @CanarabankIndia ATM 6th Cross PAI Layout . shutter half down - possibly no cash. #ATMtrail #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/JQgaGnhOwF — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) November 20, 2016