Telcos offer free data, benefits to subscribers in flood-hit areas of Assam

Mobile operators Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel on Monday said they have extended free data and other benefits to subscribers in flood-hit areas of Assam.

The two service providers also said that their on-ground team is working actively to restore connectivity across networks.

"Airtel mobile customers in the affected districts will get free credit of talk time along with 100MB to 5GB data in their accounts with extended validity to ensure that they remain connected with their loved ones and can stay online. For Postpaid customers, the bill payment dates have been extended," the company said in a statement.

Airtel's network teams are working to ensure that the network connectivity is normal across flood-affected areas, given that telecom is a major lifeline for millions of customers, it added.

Vodafone Idea said the company along with its several partners organised a flood relief drive and is working to ensure easy availability of daily requirements such as food and water to flood victims at relief camps.

Vodafone Idea said it has already credited the free data benefit of 100MB to 5GB and free validity to make calls on customer's account. "This will help people access critical services like easy digital money transaction, emergency services, social media for communicating and finding their missing relatives, friends," Vodafone statement added.

Vodafone Idea's on-ground team is working towards restoring connectivity across 2G, 3G and 4G networks, it added.