Single emergency number in 16 states

New Delhi, Feb. 18: Sixteen states and Union territories will on Tuesday join a pan- India network of the single emergency helpline number “112” on which immediate assistance can be sought by people, the home ministry said on Monday.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh will launch various initiatives for women safety here on Tuesday.

These include the launch of the Emergency Response Support System ( ERSS) in 16 states and UTs and Mumbai city; the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences ( ITSSO) and the safe city implementation monitoring portal.

The 16 states and UTs are Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Kerala, MP, Rajasthan, UP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman, Dadar Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, a home ministry statement said.

The ERSS is an integration of police ( 100), fire ( 101), health ( 108) and women ( 1090) helpline numbers to provide emergency services through the single number “112”. To access the 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 ( ERC). In case of a normal phone, a long press of the “5” or “9” key will activate the panic call function, a home ministry official said.

People can also log onto the ERSS’ website for the state and lodge emergency Email or send SOS alert to state ERC. They can use “112” India mobile app, which is available free on Google Playstore and Apple store.