Did a Man Receive an Electric Shock at an ATM in Kancheepuram?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Electric shock incident at Kancheepuram ATM raises alarms.
- Immediate police action and investigation were taken.
- Victim was treated at Kancheepuram Government Hospital.
- Low voltage leakage confirmed, not life-threatening.
- Calls for regular safety checks on ATMs have intensified.
Chennai, Aug 17 (NationPress) A man experienced an electric shock while attempting to withdraw cash from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram on Sunday, causing widespread panic.
This incident raised significant safety alarms among local residents, prompting immediate police intervention and urgent instructions to the bank.
The injured individual, Venkatesan (35), a resident of Kamman Street, had visited the vegetable market that morning with his eight-year-old son.
In need of cash, he stopped by the HDFC bank's ATM situated near the Head Post Office.
Upon inserting his card and starting to enter his PIN, he was unexpectedly shocked by the keypad.
Initially uncertain if it was a real shock, Venkatesan tried to input his PIN again, only to receive a much stronger shock that severely impacted his right hand.
In a state of shock and pain, he hurried out of the booth with his son and rushed to the Kancheepuram Government Hospital, where he was admitted for medical attention. The news of the incident quickly circulated, generating anxiety in the area.
Officers from the Vishnu Kanchi station arrived to investigate the ATM.
Using a tester, they confirmed that the keypad was leaking electricity. Although the leakage was of low voltage, police stated it was sufficient to cause painful shocks without leading to life-threatening injuries.
Reports soon surfaced indicating that others had also encountered minor shocks at the same ATM while entering their PINs in previous days.
While no serious injuries were documented earlier, the recurrence of such incidents alarmed the community.
Many residents began to avoid the malfunctioning machine, opting for other ATMs instead.
Some locals even used pens or other objects to press the keys, wary of further electric shocks.
The police have since alerted HDFC Bank management about the hazardous issue and instructed them to promptly repair the machine to avert future incidents.
In the meantime, locals have called on authorities and banks to conduct regular inspections of ATM facilities to ensure user safety.