Chennai, Aug 19 (IANS) HDFC Bank on Tuesday clarified that its ATM in Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram showed no electrical issues after a customer claimed he suffered shocks while attempting to withdraw cash.
In an emailed statement, Shripad Sukenkar from the bank’s Corporate Communications team said, “No electrical faults or anomalies were detected. As a bank, we adhere to the highest standards of safety, and the ATM is safe for our customers.”
The clarification came after panic spread on Sunday when Venkatesan, 35, a resident of Kamman Street, alleged that he received shocks from the ATM keypad while entering his PIN. He later sought treatment at the Kancheepuram Government Hospital for injuries to his right hand.
Police from Vishnu Kanchi station inspected the machine with a tester and confirmed a low-voltage current leakage in the keypad area. While officers noted it was not life-threatening, they admitted it was strong enough to cause painful jolts. Locals also claimed similar minor shocks had been experienced at the ATM in recent days.
Fearing further incidents, residents avoided the machine, with some resorting to pressing the keypad using pens or other objects. Following the episode, police directed HDFC Bank to carry out repairs immediately and ensure customer safety.
Locals have also urged banks to conduct regular safety checks at ATMs to prevent such risks.
