Tech community has joined in the efforts to assist people who suffered due to the massive earthquake in Nepal. While telcos have slashed call rates, Internet companies have launched tools to track their loved ones.
Even as rescue operations intensify in Nepal after the landlocked country suffered what's believed to be the worst earthquake in last 80 years, Internet companies and the Indian telecom operators are providing free/rebated services to help people connect with their loved ones.
Facebook and Google have launched tools for Nepal’s earthquake relief. Facebook has launched a Safety Check feature allowing users to mark themselves safe after the calamity. Check out Facebook's Safety check feature here.
Google has launched its Person Finder tool that helps people track friends and loved ones in the affected region. Google previously enabled its Person Finder services during floods in Uttrakhand and Jammu Kashmir. You can visit Google Person Finder for Nepal Earthquake here.
Apple launched a tool in the iTunes Store that helps contribute to the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts in Nepal. Check out the tool here.
Telecom operators BSNL and MTNL on Saturday announced that they will charge local rates for calls to Nepal for the next three days. Bharti Airtel on Sunday announced free calls to Nepal on its network over the next 48 hours.
Vodafone is facilitating all calls made to Nepal at just Re.1/min against the regular call rate of Rs. 12/min with immediate effect upto 10:00hrs on 28th of April 2015.
Starting 11 pm, 25th April , MTS India is treating all calls made from its network to Nepal as local calls i.e Rs1/minute. This is being done for the next 48 hours to support disaster relief efforts and to enable concerned callers to reach out to their friends and family in the earthquake affected areas in the neighbouring country.
Idea Cellular has announced that all calls made from its network from anywhere in India to Nepal will be charged as per local rate. Idea is facilitating all calls made to Nepal at just Re.1/min against the regular call rate of Rs.12/min, starting midnight of the 25th-26th upto the morning of the 28th of April 2015.
Tata Teleservices has announced charges for all calls to Nepal on the Tata Docomo network are reduced to 1 paise /second between 26th to 28th April.
Over the top player Viber has announced switching off ‘Viber Out’ billing so users in Nepal can make free calls to mobile and land line numbers anywhere for the next 48 hours.
Mobile commerce company Paytm is also extending helping hand by a donation service for the relief victims. “Every pledge you make, Paytm will match it rupee for rupee. If for instance, you donate Rs. 100, Paytm will add Rs. 100 more to the contribution.. Let us do our bit and together make an impact,” it says. You can find out more about Paytm's efforts here.
If we have missed out any services/assistance being provided for people in Nepal, do let us know in the comments section below or via social media.
You can help the families affected by the Nepal earthquake by donating to the following organisations:
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