Viber stops charging for outgoing calls on all phones in quake-hit Nepal

Cross-platform messenger application Viber has switched off billing of its Viber Out service, making outgoing calls by its users in Nepal free.

It announced the decision in its official Twitter page on Sunday.

“In response to the earthquake in Nepal we have switched off Viber Out billing so Nepal users can call any destination for free,” the company wrote.

The announcement comes as the Himalayan country faces the worst earthquake in eight decades.

A massive earthquake that hit the country on Saturday killed more than 2,200 people, snapped communication and destroyed numerous buildings including many heritage sites.

The 7.9 magnitude quake also shook up Bangladesh and India killing at least 56 peoples, mostly in India.

On Sunday, an aftershock of 6.7 magnitude, originating near the spot of the first quake, hit the three countries.

But the extent of damage could not be ascertained immediately.

Many tourists, including Bangladeshis, and mountaineers are trapped in Nepal since April is considered the ideal month for scaling the world’s tallest peak.

“We hope this will prove helpful to anyone trying to reach friends and family in this region,” Viber wrote in the comment section.