No Internet, recharging phones becomes headache for customers

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 14

With postpaid mobile services restored in Kashmir after 70 days, the payment of mobile bills is proving to be the biggest headache for residents.

Hundreds of people, with smart phones in their hands, could be seen thronging the BSNL, Airtel and Jio head offices in Srinagar to restore their phones as most of them were not able to recharge their Jio phone numbers in August or pay their Airtel and BSNL bills as the Internet services and telecommunication networks were snapped abruptly on August 4 across the state.

“As soon as the phones started ringing this afternoon, I got a call from Airtel asking me to pay my bill to avoid disruption of services. However, the problem is that I won’t be able to pay it as the Internet services are still not available,” Mohsin Malik, a resident from the Hyderpora locality who was waiting in a long queue outside the Airtel head office, said.

Similar long lines of customers were seen outside the corporate office of Jio in the Jahangir Chowk area, where hundreds of people were eager to recharge their phones.

“My phone was not working as I had not paid the bill. I came all the way from Hyderpora to recharge my Jio number to avoid disconnection so that I am able to talk to my friends and relatives,” said Hummaiya, who was lucky enough to recharge his phone.

Akhter Hussain, who had been waiting for his turn outside the Jio office for at least an hour, said he had a postpaid number but his plan had already expired. “First I will check my bill and then accordingly, choose an appropriate postpaid connection,” Akhter said as he yelled at another person for jumping the queue. He demanded restoration of the Internet services also so that people were also able to pay their mobile and other utility bills.

A Jio employee, who had been deputed by the company with a handset to help people search their bills and repay and recharge their plans, told The Tribune that since noon, when postpaid mobiles started ringing in Kashmir, he and other of his colleagues had recharged thousands of Jio numbers.

“Right now, we are accepting hard cash as the Internet service is not available. Payment through credit or debit card right now is futile in the absence of the internet,” he said.