Emergency? 112 is now your go-to number

SHILLONG, Feb 18: Now, people in Meghalaya, who find themselves in a vulnerable situation, are just few clicks of a button away from invoking an emergency response team.
Chief Secretary RV Suchiang on Friday inaugurated the Nationwide Emergency Response System (NERS)/Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) or dial 112 — a vision of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), to launch a nationwide, unified emergency response system with a single emergency number ‘112’ for all kinds of emergencies and distress signals from citizens in the form of voice call, SMS, e-mail, panic SOS request, web request, etc.
The inaugural event at Sadar Police Station was also attended by Special Director General of Police, I Nongrang, Secretary, Home (Police), Cyril VD Diengdoh, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Suchiang pointed out that various challenges — ranging from power outage, network issue beside others — are likely to confront them in the initial days. However, she assured that proper care will be taken that to address those technical snags so as to ensure that the response time is not affected.
The Meghalaya Government has procured eight Maruti Ecco Vans, and has allowed requisition of 12 light vehicles.
The vehicles, fitted with MDTs, first-aid boxes and fire extinguishers, have been distributed throughout the state with four in East Khasi Hills, three in West Garo Hills, two each in Ri-Bhoi, West Jaintia Hills and East Garo Hills, and one each in West Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills, Eastern West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, North Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills.
“Apart from these vehicles, the Highway Patrol Vehicles will also be mounted with MDTs and will function as Emergency Response Vehicles and anybody facing problems on the Highway can call 112 now, at present there are 13 Highway Patrol Vehicles in the state,” a statement in this regard said.
It may be mentioned that under the new mechanism, all these distress signals are sent to 112, the automated facility envisaged to be set up for this purpose in the capital cities of all states and union territories across India. They will handle all distress signals to 112 and render assistance available to the ones in distress in real time.
With this, all existing emergency numbers like 100 (Police), 101 (Fire and Rescue) and 108 (Ambulance), 181 (Women and Child Care) etc, will be integrated in 112.
“The implementation of Nationwide Emergency Response System involves setting up of three major components — Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) implementation at the state/UT capitals, District Coordination Centre extensions with associated Emergency Response Units (vehicles fitted with mobile data terminals) and the National Support Services implementation at the national capital,” the statement said.