Bengaluru: A server glitch at the Lalbagh Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) on Tuesday left applicants frustrated, with several taking to social media to voice their concerns. Videos shared by applicants showed people questioning officials about their appointments. In one video, an applicant is heard telling an official that the appointment had been allotted by the office and asking why she should bear the consequences of the disruption. An official attributed the delay to a server issue.The Passport Office subsequently issued a notice asking affected applicants to reschedule their appointments to August 22. However, the notice did not specify the nature of the technical problem. On social media, applicants said they had taken leave from work, rearranged their schedules and made plans around their fixed appointment dates, questioning why they should have to bear the inconvenience.A trader from the area said Tuesday’s situation was chaotic. “I saw people yelling at officials and demanding answers. Police also arrived at the spot and tried to control the crowd. It was a very tense atmosphere,” he said.While the major disruption was reported Tuesday, applicants continued to face longer waiting times on Wednesday. Several said they had heard about the previous day’s problem and arrived expecting some delay, only to find their appointments running behind schedule.TOI checks situationTOI visited the Lalbagh PSK Wednesday and found more than 70 applicants and accompanying family members waiting outside. While appointments were being processed gradually, applicants said they were running about one to one-and-a-half hours behind schedule.Some applicants with afternoon slots were still waiting outside even after their scheduled appointment times, while relatives waited for those who had entered the centre. The crowd continued to build as applicants were allowed inside in batches.Zabiullah, a resident of RT Nagar, had accompanied his sisters, including a minor, to the centre. “They went inside around 2.30pm, and I have been waiting for nearly one-and-a-half hours. We heard there was a glitch yesterday, so we came prepared for some delay, but we still have no idea why it is taking so long today. Lalbagh is usually crowded, but appointments are given for a reason. We are spending the whole day here without knowing what is happening,” he said.Rajashankar SH of JP Nagar 7th Phase, who accompanied his wife for her passport renewal, said he had taken leave from work for the appointment. “I have been waiting here for nearly two hours, and she is still inside. The crowd is growing, but the security personnel are not telling us anything. Those coming out say there were technical glitches, but no information has been given to us,” he said.Meanwhile, officials from the Passport Seva department said the disruption on Tuesday was reported across the country. A senior official told TOI, “The glitch was not known beforehand and was observed across all Passport Seva Kendras Tuesday. Many applicants were unable to complete their appointments that day. To accommodate them, we are conducting a special drive on August 22, when all affected applicants will be accommodated.“On Wednesday, there were minor issues, but no major glitches. We tried to complete all appointments, though the process was not very smooth. We made efforts to resolve the issues and clear the backlog of appointments.”
