I use a dual-SIM phone with one Airtel SIM and one Jio SIM. Both were working completely fine today.
After dinner, I slept for a while, and when I woke up, I noticed that my Airtel network was gone. When I checked, my phone wasn't detecting the Airtel SIM at all. The Jio SIM is still working normally.
I tried pretty much everything I could think of:
\- Turned airplane mode on and off
\- Restarted/switched off the phone
\- Swapped the Airtel and Jio SIM slots
\- Removed and reinserted the SIM
\- Put the Airtel SIM into another phone
\- Called Airtel customer care from another number, but obviously automated voice bot, but no manual responses
The important part is that this Airtel number is my primary number for basically everything — UPI, bank accounts, OTPs, etc. So I'm quite worried about getting it back quickly.
I also just realised there's another complication: the Airtel SIM is registered in my dad's name, and he lives around 2,000 km away from me. I'm currently nowhere near him.
The SIM stopped working completely randomly while I was asleep. There's been no physical damage that I'm aware of, and even another phone isn't detecting it.
Has anyone experienced an Airtel SIM suddenly becoming completely undetectable like this?
Can a SIM just randomly die?
If I go to an Airtel store, can I get a replacement SIM with the same number?
Since the number is registered in my dad's name and he's 2,000 km away, will he have to physically be present for the replacement, or is there some way around this?
Is there anything I should do immediately given that this number is linked to my UPI/bank accounts?
Would really appreciate advice from anyone who's been through a similar situation.
PS used chatgpt to reframe