Aircel Cellular said it has restored its 2G services in most part of the Kashmir region, enabling thousands of people stranded to connect with their families and friends.
Aircel 2G is operating in Anantnag, Bandipora, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Srinagar, Budgam, Bonigam and Ganderbal, the mobile operator said. Jammu and Kashmir has been hit by floods over the last two weeks, disrupting communications.
Aircel 3G has continued to be up and running, it added.
The company is working with the local administration and the Army to ensure seamless connectivity on its 2G and 3G network in the region. “Aircel has offered its network to all other mobile service operators to help the people of J&K to connect with their families and friends,” it added.
In its support to help the stranded people and enable easy communication, Aircel has deployed mobile charging booths for all stranded, and to make calls free of cost.
The booths are equipped with handsets, sufficient talk-time and mobile charging units to enable free calls, it added.
It has launched a short code based application through which subscribers can send details on a toll free number. (SEND JK FIND TO 1299).
The same is being FLASHED TO ARMY TWITTER HANDLE @ADGPI THRU TWITTER TEAMS WHO ARE MANAGING ARMY HANDLE, it added.
Around 800 request have been registered in last 24 hours.
Aircel Credit is being extended to entire base so as to enable subscriber continue talking, it added.
In case of postpaid customers, credit limits have been enhanced upto 150 % to ensure the subscribers continue using their phones. No barring is being done, it added.
All the subscribers who are in grace period have been moved back to ACTIVE bucket without any recharge to enable them to start communicating, the Chennai based company said.
It has also put on hold all renewals on VAS so as to ensure that talktime is not exhausted, it added.
“The Rescue Teams of Aircel employees are working to evacuate people stranded in flooded areas. Aircel is also working closely with the local agencies and Government’s disaster management groups to render help and support with relief work being carried out. The company is also stocking up relief material like medicines, water, non-perishable food items at their offices,” it added.