Jio and Airtel offer free calls and data to flood-affected states

Heavy rainfall and floods have disrupted normal life in several regions of India, leaving many families struggling with connectivity issues. In response, telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have announced emergency measures to ensure uninterrupted communication for those affected. These initiatives include free calls, additional data, validity extensions, and roaming support, providing a vital lifeline for people during this crisis.

Reliance Jio Relief Measures

Reliance Jio has rolled out a set of measures to assist customers in rain and flood-affected areas:

• Prepaid users: A 3-day validity extension along with 2GB high-speed data per day and unlimited voice calls for three days.

• JioHome users: An additional 3-day extension to maintain uninterrupted services.

• Postpaid users: A 3-day grace period for bill payments, ensuring continuous calling and data usage without service disruption.

These steps aim to help affected users stay in touch with their loved ones and access essential services during emergency situations.

Airtel Announces Free Calling and Data

Bharti Airtel has implemented similar relief measures for flood-hit regions:

• Prepaid users: 3-day validity extension, unlimited calls, and 1GB high-speed data per day.

• Postpaid and broadband users: 3-day grace period to continue using services without interruptions.

Airtel’s support ensures that both personal and professional communication channels remain active during the floods.

Government Orders Intra-Circle Roaming

To further strengthen communication, the Indian government has directed all telecom operators to enable intra-circle roaming in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh until September 2, 2025.

This policy allows users to automatically connect to any available telecom network if their own operator’s network is down. The measure is critical to ensure emergency calls, rescue coordination, and essential communication can continue even during severe weather events, landslides, or network disruptions.

Importance of Connectivity During Floods

Telecom connectivity is a lifeline during natural disasters. People trapped in flood-affected areas rely on their mobile phones to:

• Contact family and friends for safety updates.

• Reach emergency services for rescue and medical assistance.

• Access news and weather updates to make informed decisions.

By providing free calling, data boosts, and extended validity, Jio and Airtel are helping millions of citizens stay connected when it matters most.

Coordinated Efforts for Disaster Management

The combination of telecom operator support and government directives highlights the importance of coordinated disaster response. These efforts ensure that:

• Citizens can communicate without worrying about network failures.

• Emergency services can operate efficiently with reliable contact channels.

• Communities in flood-hit regions receive timely alerts and assistance.

How Users Can Benefit

Affected users in the designated regions can enjoy these benefits automatically:

• Prepaid users receive extended validity and additional data.

• Postpaid and broadband users benefit from a grace period for payments.

• All users in impacted states can use any available network due to intra-circle roaming.

These measures are particularly crucial for areas where flooding has disrupted electricity and mobile towers, allowing people to maintain connectivity without additional cost or effort.

Conclusion

The emergency response from Jio, Airtel, and the Indian government demonstrates a strong commitment to keeping citizens connected during crises. By offering free calls, data, validity extensions, and roaming support, telecom operators are playing a key role in disaster management. These measures ensure that millions of affected individuals can communicate with family, access help, and stay informed during one of the most challenging periods in flood-hit states.