Srinagar: In the wake of heavy rainfall and multiple landslides disrupting life across Jammu & Kashmir, the Government of India has directed all major telecom operators to immediately activate Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) facilities in the Union Territory.
According to an order issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Disaster Management Unit, operators including Airtel, BSNL, Reliance Jio and Vodafone-Idea have been instructed to provide seamless connectivity to subscribers, regardless of their parent network, until September 2, 2025.
The move aims to ensure that people stranded due to blocked roads and communication breakdowns can continue to access mobile networks and reach out to emergency services.
“In view of the prevailing situation due to heavy rainfall and multiple landslides in J&K, all TSPs are hereby instructed to activate the Intra Circle Roaming facility for the Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory with immediate effect,” the order reads.
The ICR facility will allow all in-roamers within J&K to connect to whichever network is available in their location, minimizing the risk of communication blackouts during the ongoing crisis.
Officials said the measure is part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP 2020) for disaster response, ensuring uninterrupted communication during natural calamities.
Telecom operators have been asked to treat the directive on a “top priority” basis to restore public confidence and enable effective coordination of rescue and relief operations.
