In the wake of the disastrous Nepal Earthquake, technology companies have come forward with emergency tools that help track people and connect with them.
The earthquake measuring 7.9 on Richter scale that shook Nepal last weekend has left more than 3000 dead and thousands injured. According to the latest BBC reports, at least 3,617 people have died and 6,500 have been injured in Nepal with death toll expected to rise sharply.
The tremors have been also felt in India and China, leaving dozens perished under the massive earthquake. With rescue operations in full swing, companies like Google and Facebook have rendered support in their own way.
Google’s
Person Finder helps inquire about missing people and enables you to update information about someone lost or rescued in the disaster. People can access information on the site click here or send a text “search” to +91-9773300000 in India.
Facebook’s
Nepal Earthquake ‘safety check’ tool collects information from profile updates and GPS data. The users who are closer to the disaster zone get a notification asking them if they were safe. Thus the users get marked safe or unsafe depending on their response, passing on the message to their friends and family.
Viber
has offered users in Nepal free calls to mobile and landline networks anywhere in the world. This offer is for the next 48 hours.
Telecom companies on the other hand have reduced the call rates to Nepal, thus allowing customers to connect with their friends and family in Nepal at local cost rates. BSNL and MTNL users can now make calls at 1 rupee/minute instead of 10 rupee/minute over the next three days. Airtel is offering free calls to Nepal on its network over the next 48 hours.
