The morning after the government suddenly demonetized Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, chaos prevailed on the roads and at petrol stations, drug stores, and retail and wholesale markets as virtually all daily cash transactions choked up in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Morning commuters rushing to their place of work experienced the first impact of the decision as they frantically ran about trying to secure change for Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as three-wheeler and four-wheeler cabbies refused to accept these.