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Incredible stories: when rats destroyed banknotes inside an ATM machine

In 2018, an incredible event shook the Indian city of Tinsukia: a group of rats destroyed banknotes inside an ATM machine, causing significant economic damage.

The incident sparked wonder and curiosity around the world, leading to speculation about the behaviour of rats and the safety of ATMs. In this article, we will take a closer look at this incredible story and try to understand what could have prompted the rats to act in this way.

We will also look at the wider implications of the event, highlighting the vulnerabilities of financial technologies and the challenges society faces in preventing threats from wild animals and natural environments. (source BBC)

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Incredible stories: when rats destroyed banknotes inside an ATM machine
In 2018, an incredible event shook the Indian city of Tinsukia: a group of rats destroyed banknotes inside an ATM machine, causing significant economic damage. The incident sparked wonder and curiosity around the world, leading to speculation about the behaviour of rats and the safety of ATMs. In this article, we will take a closer look at this incredible story and try to understand what could have prompted the rats to act in this way. We will also look at the wider implications of the event, highlighting the vulnerabilities of financial technologies and the challenges society faces in preventing threats from wild animals and natural environments. (source BBC)
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What happened
The city of Tinsukia, located in north-eastern India, in the state of Assam, was the scene of an unbelievable incident that has made the rounds of the world. As reported by the BBC, a pack of rats managed to destroy several 500 and 2000 rupee notes inside a local bank, also rendering the ATM unusable. When technicians arrived to repair the machine, they discovered destroyed banknotes worth more than 1.2 million rupees, or about 13,300 pounds or 17,600 dollars. (source BBC)
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That's where the rats came in
Bank employees and the local police found the destroyed banknotes and, amidst what remained of the banknotes, also the carcass of one of the rats. The discovery of the carcass was the proof that solved the mystery: the rats had gnawed through the banknotes. The local police said that the rodents probably entered the machine through a wiring hole, the Hindustan Times reported.
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Bank security
This affair raised several questions about the security of banks and their ability to protect their customers' money. In addition, it has raised concerns about public health, as the presence of rats in an area where money is handled could lead to hygiene and contamination problems.
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What damage!
This case showed that even the smallest animals can cause considerable damage if they are in a favourable environment. In this case, rats were able to destroy a large amount of money and render an ATM unusable. Evidently, protection against the damage caused by these animals was not sufficient, and more effective security measures will be needed in the future.
Twitter: @NANDANPRATIM
Social sharing
Pictures of the destroyed banknotes inside the State Bank of India branch in the Tinsukia district have been widely shared on social media. One of the photos also shows a dead rodent in the rubble, but we deliberately avoided showing it to you (the person in the photo is holding a destroyed banknote).
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