Chaos as millions in India crowd banks to exchange currency

The hand of an Indian policeman is seen as he asks people to wait patiently in queues to exchange or deposit discontinued currency notes outside a bank in in New Delhi, India, on Nov. 11. Delivering one of India’s biggest-ever economic upsets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week declared that the bulk of Indian currency notes no longer held any value and asked anyone holding those bills to take them to banks to deposit or exchange them. AP

NEW DELHI—Long lines have grown longer, scuffles have broken out and chaotic scenes are being seen across India as millions of people wait to change old currency notes that have become worthless after the government demonetized high-value bills.

Angry scuffles broke out Saturday in New Delhi after ATM machines ran out of bills. Minor stampedes occurred in two places when thousands of people waiting in line surged forward to enter the building.

Paramilitary troops posted at banks in some of the most congested areas of the city walked among the crowd urging people to stay calm.

Earlier in the week, India’s government made a surprise announcement that all 500- and 1,000-rupee notes had no cash value in an effort to tackle corruption and tax evasion.