Now dial ‘112’ for police, fire, ambulance services in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched an unified emergency helpline number ‘112’ to provide three emergency services to public.

With this, people in the state will no more need to dial different numbers like 100, 101, 103 for emergency services of police, fire brigade and ambulance. They can avail the emergency services by dialing the single 3-digit Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) number.

The CM launched the helpline through video conference today.

“People will dial only a single number 112 for all their emergency needs related to police, fire service, health, disaster and any other emergency in times of distress,” Patnaik said.

Thanking the State Police for this initiative, the Chief Minister said that this single-number service will be very beneficial for all, especially women and elderly persons. He urged them to work for the safety, dignity and welfare of all by providing faster, prompter and immediate response during emergency and distress.

The Chief Minister appealed the people to download 112 India Mobile App and register themselves as 112 Volunteers to help others in their locality during any distress.

In the first phase, it will be operational in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela and all district headquarters in the state.

Worth mentioning, emergency numbers like 100, 101, 102, and 108 will also remain functional till people become aware of 112 helpline number.

Earlier, the Government had approved creation of 1098 posts in police department for provision of the fast services to the people of the state through this unified number. Besides, nearly 200 Call Taker Executives have been outsourced for the purpose, sources said.

Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra and DGP Abhay were present during the launching ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra expressed happiness over the introduction of a single emergency number that will now help people instead of multiple emergency numbers. He described the initiatives taken by the State police under the guidance of the Chief Minister for safety and security of women, children and senior citizens.

In his welcome address, DGP briefed on the details of the emergency response system.

Under the new system, a caller will also be able to send distress signals by pressing the power button on a Smart Phone three times in quick succession or by a long press of ‘5’ or ‘9’ key on a feature phone to activate a panic call. One will also be able to log on to the State ERSS website ( www.or.erss.in ) and place an SOS request, E-mail or SOS alert to the SERC. The 112 India Mobile App (available in Google Play Store and Apple Store) will also enable in activating a panic call.