Single emergency helpline number ‘112’ launched: All you need to know
Single emergency helpline number ‘112’ launched: All you need to know
India is finally getting its single emergency helpline number. The number is similar to ‘911’ in the United States. Launching the helpline number, the home minister Rajnath Singh said, “The helpline number ‘112’ will be activated across the country by next year and anyone in distress can reach the helpline by pressing a single key on phones which will be pre-programmed.”
Here’s all you need to know about the single-emergency number …
‘112’ is pan-India single emergency helpline number
The ‘112’ emergency number has been launched under Emergency Response Support System (ERSS).
The ‘112’ emergency number will connect to Police, Fire, and Women helplines (for now)
The ‘112’ number is an integration of Police (100), Fire (101) and Women (1090) helpline numbers. The aim is to provide all these emergency services through a single number.
The Health helpline (108) will be integrated with it soon
According to officials, the Health helpline number ‘108’ will be integrated with this soon.
This service obviates the need for citizens to remember multiple helpline numbers
With the new single-emergency number in place, citizens will no longer have to remember multiple helpline numbers.
The ‘112’ number has been launched today in 16 states and union territories
The emergency number ‘112’ has been launched in 16 states and union territories. These include Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman, Dadar Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Jammu and Kashmir.
Long press ‘5’ or ‘9’ on feature phones
In case of feature phone, a long press on ‘5’ or ‘9’ keys too will activate the panic call function.
‘112’ helpline has already been launched in Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland
Himachal Pradesh became the first state to launch the emergency number ‘112’ in November 2018.
