Telecom firms offer free talk-time to help Chennai flood victims

Aiming to lend a helping hand to the Chennai flood victims, telecom service providers and mobile payment solutions providers have come up with free mobile recharges to help the residents stay connected.

Airtel has announced it will provide auto approval of 'Talk Time' credit up to Rs.30 for all Airtel prepaid mobile customers. It will give free of cost credit of 10 minutes of Airtel-to-Airtel calling for prepaid mobile customers with a validity of two days.

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The company will give free of cost credit of 50 MB mobile data for Airtel prepaid mobile customers with a validity of two days and its post-paid and fixed line customers whose bills are due to be paid immediately will get an extended time to make the payment and will experience uninterrupted services.

Life in the Tamil Nadu capital was virtually crippled on Wednesday as fresh rains worsened an already disastrous flood situation, posing a danger to thousands of people in low-lying areas. Soldiers joined the rescue and relief work and rescued 65 men and women till Wednesday afternoon, officials said, adding that more troops were on their way to Chennai from Bengaluru.

"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," Vodafone India said in a statement.

"In addition, free 100 MB 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," it added.

State-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd said it will offer free calls, data services to its customers in Chennai for seven days. Telecom service provider, Aircel also offered free 10 minutes Aircel-to-Aircel calls across India to all its Chennai customers for the next three days in its support towards the families affected by the natural calamity faced in Chennai.

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"In this need of the hour, Aircel is also offering auto credit of Rs.30 to all its customers along with 10 free all India SMS valid for three days and 100MB 2G/3G free data valid for three days," a statement by the company said.

Mobile payment and commerce platform, Paytm, has provided a helpline 18001030033 and asked its customers to share the mobile number that they want to get topped-up. "Paytm will facilitate a Rs.30 recharge instantly and absolutely free of cost," a statement from the company said.

Source IANS