World's second coldest inhabited place Drass gets first ATM

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Locals in Drass, the world's second coldest inhabited town, can finally get access to instant cash with bank authorities installing the first ever Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in the area.

The ATM was installed by the Jammu and Kashmir Bank here on Sunday.

Interacting with reporters here, locals lauded the efforts of the bank and expressed their happiness over the installation of the ATM.

"I am very happy with the installation of the ATM as earlier we used to face lot of problems in transacting money and had to travel to far flung areas. We had to stand in long queues to get money directly from the bank, making it inconvenient. All of us are happy as we can save time and still get our money," Hussain Ali, a local, said.

The bank's branch manager, Gulzar Ahmad, said that the installation of the ATM would prove beneficial for the Army personnel and tourists.

"People in the area had to face lot of problems as there was no ATM here. The bank used to be flooded with people all the time. The installation of the ATM has made it convenient for all to transact money. People often urged for setting up an ATM and I am happy that it has been finally done now. They had to go to Kargil earlier to get instant cash. I am happy that the bank has taken this step," Ahmad said.

Often called as the 'Gateway to Ladakh', the town remains disconnected with rest of the valley due to incessant snowfall, blocking one of the major connecting routes, the 'Zojila Pass'.

The second available ATM is approximately 70 kilometres in Kargil district or at Sonamarg in Ganderbal district, also at the same distance from Dras.

India's highest ATM lies at a height of 13,200 feet in Sikkim.