Demonetisation Turns Deadly As ‘Killer Queues’ Claim Another Victim

Jaipur: Another tragic incident of an elderly person collapsing in the currency queue at a bank took place in Jhunjhunu district of Rajastan where a 75-year-old man died while being taken to the hospital.

According to the police Ratna Ram, 75 was standing in a queue outside the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ) in Pilani to exchange his defunct currency notes, when he collapsed all of a sudden.

He was rushed immediately to a hospital but was declared brought dead on arrival by the attending doctor. Ratna Ram’s dead body was then shifted to the mortuary for postmortem.

Death toll averages to five a day

Confirmed deaths of 55 people were reported as of now in the national and regional media, with the larger portion being those of elderly who collapsed in the queues. Suicides form the other segment, particularly of housewives. The death toll have averaged to five persons per day since the demonetisation was brought into effect.

A similar incident of an elderly man having collapsed in the queue was reported closer home in Hyderabad when Laxminarayana, a retired government employee who was standing in queue at the Andhra Bank branch in West Marredpally on Tuesday, patiently awaiting his turn, collapsed suddenly. He too lost his life en route to the hospital.

Bank employees working under stress

The distress of demonetisation has not only claimed lives of customers at banks but taken a toll on bank employees as well. Rajesh Kumar, an over worked bank manager of a co-operative bank in Rohtak district of Haryana , died due to a severe heart attack after he worked continuously for three days including a second Saturday and Sunday and got only a day off on Monday on account of Guru Nanak's birth anniversary.

Apologize, compensate, demands Congress

Meanwhile the Delhi Congress sought an unconditional apology from the prime minister and demanded compensation to the families of the deceased.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) Chief Ajay Maken

Last 10 days have seen tragic deaths of 55 innocent individuals. What was their fault? The heart rendering incidents expose the reality of the Modi government’s ‘Tuglaki Farman’.

DPCC chief Ajay Maken said the party will take out a 'Jan Akrosh March' in all Assembly constituencies of Delhi on Sunday and also hold a demonstration at Prime Minister's residence on November 23.