Blame Covid-19 for the prevailing cash crisis in State Bank of India ATMs in and around the steel city.

Around 35 staff members associated with the bank’s currency administration cell that is responsible for ensuring ATMs are topped up with cash, have been infected with the virus.

Even driver and guards based at the Bistupur regional office of the bank from where the cell operates have tested positive for Covid-19.

"I was in need of cash on Sunday. I went around three SBI ATMs in Sonari locality. But all of them displayed a ‘No Cash’ sign. Later, I got the money by using the ATM of another bank," said Sumanta Ghosh, a self-employed resident of Sonari West Layout.

Complaints that SBI ATMs had run out of cash in the last three-four days poured in from several other parts of the city, including Telco and Kadma. The only place where cash was available was at the ATM Hub located on the premises of Bistupur and Sakchi branches of SBI.

“We are facing a problem in refilling cash in ATMs as all officials and staff of the currency administration cell have tested Covid positive. The cell is literally non-operational for the last few days which has resulted in the cash crisis at our ATMs," said SBI chief manager Rakesh Sinha.

He, however, said that they were trying to deploy staff from other departments.

"Hopefully, we will be able to start the process from tomorrow (Tuesday)," he said.

Sources in SBI said that earlier the cash refilling job was outsourced to a private agency. But as the bank was not satisfied with the service, the currency cell ttk over the job.

Rintu Rajak, convenor of National Confederation of Bank Employees and deputy general secretary of All India SBI Staff Association, has appealed to customers to bear with them.

"It is an unforeseen problem. Over 30 staff members have tested Covid positive. They are undergoing treatment. We pray to God that they recover and join duty as early as possible, " he said, adding that necessary Covid protocols were being followed at all branches.