Banking affected in Andamans

QUAKE AFTERMATH

The business of banking has been seriously affected at the Andaman and Nicobar islands, still reeling under the impact of the killer tsunami.

The three branches of the State Bank of India in the Nicobar islands are not functioning properly and one SBI employee is believed to be missing.

UTI Bank, the only private-sector bank to have a branch in Port Blair, has lost telephone links with its branch there. "We have one branch and six ATMs in Port Blair. Fortunately, we have not lost any of our people and could get in touch through email," said Aspy Engineer, vice-president, UTI Bank.

Bank of Baroda (BoB) also has a branch in Port Blair. "All the five people in the branch are safe and we are in touch with them. There has been no problem," said a general manager at BoB.

The bank is contributing Rs 5 crore to the relief fund, while its employees will contribute one day's salary, which together would amount to Rs 2 crore.

Though the Punjab National Bank branch in Pondicherry was flooded on Sunday, there was no damage to people or property. It has no branches in the Nicobar islands.

HDFC Bank conducted a head count in its branches along the peninsula yesterday. "Thankfully, there has been no human casualty," said a senior official from HDFC Bank. "The bank branches and ATMs are all safe," he added.

"Water flooded three of our branches located in the Nicobar islands. We have not been able to get in touch with one of our employees. The branch building broke into two as a result of the earthquake," said A K Purwar, chairman of SBI, on the sidelines of a press conference held here today. The bank's computer systems have been destroyed in these branches.