Indian telecom operators offer free calls for earthquake hit Nepal

In a noble gesture, Indian telecom operators have either slashed their call rates or announced free calls. The first one to take the lead was state owned telco, BSNL which announced that all calls that will be made from BSNL network will be charged as per local call rates for the next three days. MTNL too made a similar announcement. A normal call to Nepal costs Rs 10 per minute.

Bharti Airtel, in a noble gesture, has decided to offer free calls to the quake hit nation. The statement from Bharti Airtel said, "We are deeply saddened by the severe impact that one of the worst earthquakes in Nepal has had on the lives of its people. As a small gesture during this hour of crisis, we have decided to offer all calls on the Airtel network from India to Nepal completely free of cost for the next 48 hours effective from 26th April midnight, thus enabling customers across the country get in touch with their families and friends in Nepal."

The latest initiative came from Aircel, which has offered free calls to Nepal for all its customers for the next two days i.e. 27th and 28th April 2015, in its support towards the natural calamity faced by the country. Additionally, those customers traveling to Nepal during this hour of crisis will also get free incoming while roaming into Nepal for the next 48 hours. Aircel has also waived off international roaming rental deduction for its prepaid customers.

Idea Cellular has announced that all calls made from its network from anywhere in India to Nepal will be charged as per local rate starting midnight of the 25th-26th April up to the morning of the 28th of April 2015. Reliance too has a similar offer, where calls can be made according to local call rates till Tuesday, 28th April 2015.