In India, Google's Neighbourly app goes local to take on Facebook, WhatsApp

Google executives were quietly thrilled when users compared Neighbourly favourably to the ancient Indian concept of Karma

A Mumbai train commuter who witnessed an accident earlier this month, turned to his smartphone to ask neighbours how to help a bleeding victim. Responses poured in instantaneously. Take him to the station master at the next stop; ask the ticket collector for first aid; call 138 for emergency help and so on. Not long after, the commuter posted a happy ending: the injured party had received medical attention.

This transpired within minutes on Neighbourly, the hyper-local social network unveiled in India this month by Google’s Next Billion Users program. The neighbourhood network -- available in Mumbai and soon to expand