20 states join pan-India single emergency helpline number ‘112’

Twenty states and Union territories have so far joined a pan-India network of single emergency helpline number ‘112’ on which immediate assistance can be sought by anyone in distress, officials said Friday.

Twenty states and Union territories have so far joined a pan-India network of single emergency helpline number ‘112’ on which immediate assistance can be sought by anyone in distress, officials said Friday.

The ‘112’ helpline is an integration of police (100), fire (101) and women (1090) helpline numbers and the project is being implemented under the central government’s Nirbhaya Fund.

The single number for emergency services is similar to ‘911’ in the United States.

The 20 states and UTs include Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland, a Home Ministry official said.

The Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) envisages a single pan-India emergency number ‘112’, which is an internationally recognised number, to target all types of emergencies.

A panic button is already provided on all mobile phones, which on activation will trigger an emergency call to ‘112’. The Emergency Response Centre (ERCs), being set up by the States and UTs, can receive panic signal via voice call to ‘112’, email requests on state ERSS website or the ‘112’ mobile app, the official said.

Location based tracking of victim can be done through location based services of all phones or even more accurately through GPS for smart phones.

The ‘112’ India app provides for ‘shout facility’ designed especially for women, for enlisting support of volunteers, who have registered themselves with the state police, for emergency response.

To access emergency services, a person can dial ‘112’ on a phone or press the power button of a smart phone three times quickly to send a panic call to the Emergency Response Centre.

In case of a normal phone, a long press of the ‘5’ or ‘9’ key will activate the panic call.

A total of Rs 321.69 crore has been earmarked for this Emergency Response Support System out of which Rs 278.66 crore has already been released to the States and the UTs from the Nirbhaya Fund, set up following the infamous 2012 Delhi gangrape case, another official said.

People can also log onto the ERSS website for the respective state and send an emergency email or SOS alert to state Emergency Response Centre. They can use ‘112’ India mobile app, which is available free on Google Play Store and Apple Store.

The Nirbhaya Fund was set up by the central government for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of the women.

An empowered committee of officers, headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, apprises and recommends projects to be funded under the Nirbhaya Fund, the official said.

The empowered committee also reviews and monitors the progress of the schemes/ projects. Once the it is recommended by the committee, the ministry/ department concerned has to take approval of the competent authority.

Ooty, Erode and Karur Record Hottest September Days Ever

Ooty recorded its hottest September day on record at 24.4°C as several parts of Tamil Nadu, including Erode and Karur in...

60 Forest Dept Staff Join Effort to Treat Elephant Injured by Iron Wire Near Coimbatore

Forest personnel and a veterinary team successfully treated a female elephant after an iron wire was found lodged in its...

Two Seriously Injured in Separate Road Accidents in Coimbatore

A woman and a man sustained serious injuries in two separate road accidents on Sowripalayam Road and the Kavundampalayam...

Woman Succumbs to Burn Injuries in Kerosene Stove Mishap in Coimbatore

A 36-year-old woman from South Ukkadam in Coimbatore succumbed to burn injuries at the GH after a kerosene stove reporte...

67 kg of Banned Tobacco Products Seized; Two Arrested in Coimbatore

Coimbatore Police arrested two persons and seized around 67 kg of banned tobacco products in separate operations at Thu...

Nagaland Man Arrested for Allegedly Selling Painkillers in Coimbatore

Based on a tip-off, the Rathinapuri police arrested a 24-year-old Nagaland native near a public toilet close to the Shas...