Budgam, Jun 24: Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch unit at Rathsun here continues to remain closed for routine functioning, more than three weeks after the area was declared red-zone. The continuous closure of the branch is causing a huge inconvenience to the bank account holders, locals said. What “baffles” them more is that the local Block Development Office and other offices in the area are functional.

The locals said persistent closure local bank branch unit since June 2, when area was declared Red Zone, badly affects them.
“The business-related transactions have been badly affected,” they said. The cheques of many people remain to be unrealized over the period which in turn is affecting their livelihood, they said.

“We even have appraised the civil administration about the issue, but no one has shown much interest towards us”, they alleged.

When brought the issue into the notice of local administration, an official said that there was minimal sampling and vaccination in the area. “The local residents have been ‘least cooperative’ in sampling and vaccination processes.”

Deputy Commissioner Budgam, despite repeated attempts, could not be contacted for the comments.

Meanwhile when contacted Manager Bank branch Rathsun, Syed Sajad said that they have directions from civil administration to keep the unit closed. “We can’t open it unless we are asked to do so,” he said, adding “once they receive directions they will open as usual to facilitate the bank account holders.” gns