Wayanad Landslides: Airtel Announces Free Data, Calling for 3 Days; Extends Postpaid Bill Dates

Even as Kerala’s Wayanad faces deadly landslides, telecom major Bharti Airtel on Wednesday announced free 1 GB data per day and unlimited calling for prepaid customers whose validity has expired, and extended bill payment dates for all postpaid customers by 30 days. The Bharti Mittal-owned company has also converted its 52 retail stores in Kerala into relief collection points to support local administration.

Extremely heavy rain triggered the landslides in the hilly areas of Wayanad early Tuesday, leaving at least 132 people dead and more than 200 injured.

“Airtel stands in solidarity with the people affected by the landslide in Wayanad, Kerala,” Bharti Airtel said in a statement while announcing relief measures.

As a gesture to support communities in distress, Airtel announced the following measures:

Prepaid

Customers whose validity has expired and are unable to recharge, will be given 1 GB free mobile data per day, unlimited calling and 100 SMS per day. This will be valid for 3 days, Airtel said in the statement.

Postpaid

“We are extending bill payment dates for all postpaid customers by 30 days to ensure customers have uninterrupted access to mobile service,” the telecom major stated.

Supporting Local Administration with Relief Material

Airtel has converted all its 52 retail stores in Kerala into relief collection points where people can drop off relief materials, which will be handed over to the local administration to be sent to the affected communities in Wayanad, the company said.

Military personnel on Wednesday intensified search and rescue operations in Kerala’s Wayanad district, where landslides have claimed more than 100 lives, with the Army saying that it has recovered around 70 bodies and rescued nearly 1,000 people so far.