Chennai has been hit by one of the worst rains in several years causing floods and disrupting normal life. Two of the country's biggest telecom providers, Airtel and Vodafone, are now aiding subscribers in the city with several initiatives.
Airtel subscribers in Chennai will get auto approval for 'talk time' credit up to Rs. 30 (the talk time offer is only for Airtel prepaid subscribers). The company will also provide credit of 10 minutes for Airtel-to-Airtel calls for prepaid customers with a validity of two days. Free credit of 50MB mobile data for Airtel prepaid customers with a validity of two days is also being offered.
For Airtel postpaid and fixed-line subscribers, the company is extending time to make payments whose bills are due to be paid immediately.
"The uninterrupted rains have also resulted in excessive water logging and disruption of essential services in Chennai, thus causing power failures and impacting our services in some regions. We at Airtel are relentlessly working with the local authorities to enable smooth mobile communication for Airtel customers across the city," said the company in a press statement.
As for Vodafone, the company in an emailed statement said, "To enable customers to remain connected in this precarious time in flood hit Chennai, Vodafone is offering pre-approved 'chhota credit' of Rs.10 to all pre-paid customers and a credit of 10 minutes for Vodafone to Vodafone calling."
"In addition, free 100MB mobile data is being offered to all customers with data enabled handsets. The validity of the talk time credit and free data is two days. For post-paid customers whose bills are due for payment immediately, the time to make the payment is being extended," the statement added.
Airtel is not the only firm that has extended an helping hand for people in Chennai as there are a handful of startups and companies offering people help. Paytm is offering Rs. 30 worth of free talk-time to anyone who would like to remain connected. Practo has a spreadsheet with phone numbers of verified doctors and hospitals available for help in an online spreadsheet. Zomato has launched a scheme where they will provide meals for flood relief victims, and is offering to buy one meal from their end for every one purchased on the website.
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