Mumbai: The Fort branch of the HDFC Bank in Mumbai came under heavy criticism by the Twitteratti for installing metal spikes designed to prevent the homeless from sleeping outside the branch.
Simon Mundy, a correspondent from the Financial Times first posted the photos of the spikes outside the branch on Sunday, March 25.
An eyecatching response to Mumbai’s homelessness crisis from @HDFC_Bank (Fort branch) pic.twitter.com/5H8ErgUoth
— Simon Mundy (@simonmundy) March 25, 2018
The obvious hazard posed by the exposed metal spikes caused a huge uproar on Twitter, inciting criticism from the masses.
The branch was called “heartless” and “cruel” by everyone who saw the photos. People also called out the branch for posing a public safety risk.
Responding to the widespread criticism, HDFC in a tweet posted on March 27, apologised for the “inconvenience caused to the public” and assured that the spikes would be removed immediately.
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the public by the installation of the spikes at our Fort Branch, as part of the recent renovation. We’re having the spikes removed on priority”, said a statement released by the bank on its Twitter handle.
The news agency ANI even tweeted out photos of the spikes being removed by the bank.
There’s power in your tweets. But remember, with great power comes great responsibility.