Single emergency helpline '112' launched in K'taka; M'luru, four other cities excluded

Bengaluru: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday launched a single emergency helpline number ‘112’ on which immediate assistance can be sought by anyone in distress. With this Karnataka became the 25th state in the country to joined a pan-India network of single emergency helpline number.

The 112 helpline is an all-in-one emergency service, providing access to the police (100), fire (101) and health (108) helpline numbers and other services under the emergency response support system (ERSS). To access emergency services, a person can dial ‘112’ on a phone or press the power button of a smartphone three times quickly to send a panic call to the Emergency Response Centre.

Starting Friday, 112 number will be operational in all districts except for Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubbali-Dharwad, Kalaburagi and Manguluru.

Around 183 emergency response vehicles would be functioning under this concept, across the state and the fleet will be increased to 500 over a period of time