NEW DELHI: In a gesture of support amid the devastating floods in the Jammu, Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh regions, Airtel has announced a series of relief measures for its customers. The telecommunications giant is offering grace periods and extensions to ensure that residents remain connected, even as torrential rains have disrupted daily life and caused widespread destruction.
Airtel’s Relief Package
A company spokesperson confirmed that customers will receive essential services without interruption. Prepaid users with plans expiring this week will get a three-day extension that includes unlimited calls and 1GB of data per day, a crucial lifeline for those who are unable to recharge their phones.
For postpaid and broadband customers, Airtel is providing a three-day grace period on bill payments, ensuring continuous access to their services.
Recognizing the widespread network outages caused by the floods, Airtel has also enabled Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR). This means that customers in the affected regions can automatically connect to other available networks, a measure designed to provide reliable connectivity when a primary network is compromised.
Situation on the Ground
Airtel’s announcement comes as the regions grapple with the aftermath of historic rainfall. . Officials have confirmed that phone and internet services, including mobile and broadband, have largely been restored across all networks in Jammu and Kashmir after a widespread outage on Tuesday.
The city of Jammu recorded an unprecedented 380 mm of rainfall in a single 24-hour period, the highest ever since the meteorological center began its recordings in 1974. The relentless downpour has led to severe flooding, road closures, and landslides, including a tragic one at the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage site that has claimed dozens of lives. An Airtel spokesperson stated that the company’s teams are “working tirelessly on the ground to restore services at the earliest,” adding that Airtel is committed to standing with the people of the region.