112 India’s new emergency number

emergency number 112

It has been ages since we Indians are caught in the most common confusion of all times, that is to remember which emergency number is for which situation. But finally a single number will rescue us from this heightened confusion.

112, this three digit number is all set to solve all your emergency requirements and will become the default number for any kind of problem, be it contacting police, fire emergency, disaster or health emergency. It will be following the lead of USA’s 911 and UK’s 999 and has been approved by the Telecom Commission.

 Telecom Commission has accepted TRAI’s recommendation on single emergency number 112. It will now be drafted by the Department of Telecom and will require Telecom Minister’s (Ravi Shankar Prasad) approval. It will be rolled out within months rather than a year.”

Before India can use 112, already 80 odd countries are using this number for all their emergency needs. These countries include Turkey, Canada, New Zealand, etc among other European countries. The reasons for choosing this number are a few. Two best reasons are, first, 112 was chosen and not 111 or 222 because such numbers can be the cause behind accidental calls from children and second one being, its long lost introduction  in 1972 when 112 was chosen because in old phones where the numbers had to be rotated to dial, 112 took least time.

We think it is an excellent decision by the Indian telecom sector and the government. The wait for it seems bit too long though.

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