Customers faced much inconvenience during the 48-hour nationwide bank strike that started on Monday in a bid to force the government to accept their various demands.

More than a million employees as well as officers working in 27 public sector banks, including the country's largest lender SBI, around a dozen of private banks and eight foreign banks, struck work under umbrella of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), pressing for wage increases.

The strike caused much inconvenience to customers. 87-year-old Jayanti Patel said, "After getting support of my neighbors, I had reached the bank to collect my pension money. Now, I have no idea on how to manage my daily expenses."

Bhinji Kachhi, the owner of medical store in Raopura, condemned the strike saying it was wrong on bank employees' part to go on such a long strike without understanding the impact of such as move on customers. Many customers, who were waiting at a money exchange in Ruwi to send money to their families or relatives, said they were worried as they had no idea when the money would reach their homed.

Long queues were seen in front of ATMs, which quickly ran out of cash.

Striking employees are demanding renewal of fifteen-month salary contract, and withdrawal of banking reforms, which includes privatisation of banks, outsourcing of services and opening of the sector to foreign banks.