UPI crash leaves citizens stranded

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A major UPI failure on Saturday caused chaos across the city and country, leaving cashless citizens in distress.

With rising dependence on digital payments, most people had stopped carrying cash. When UPI apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm stopped working, many were left helpless. Petrol pumps saw the most complaints as QR codes failed to scan, triggering arguments with staff.

Akhil Abbas, president of the Petrol Pump Owners Association, said customers switched to cash or cards after learning it was a nationwide issue. Online orders were delayed, ATMs saw long queues, and banks were shut due to the second Saturday. At Mondha market, where over 50% of payments are made via UPI, traders allowed trusted customers to buy on credit. Some managed with debit or credit cards. “Digital payment failure left many without options. We supported known buyers,” said Sanjay Kankariya, president, district traders federation. Services gradually resumed by evening, but the disruption highlighted the risks of relying solely on digital transactions.