Dimapur, May 18 (EMN): The emergency response support system (ERSS), an initiative of the ministry of Home Affairs, is a pan-India single emergency response number “112” for all kinds of emergencies and distress calls for the country.
The system provides for 24 x 7 efficient and effective response system during emergencies, the government's publicity agency, the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR), issued on Saturday a feature about the system.
An Emergency Response Centre (ERC) more commonly referred to as PSAP (public safety answering point), where all distress calls made to ‘112’ are received, has been set-up at the state police control room in the state's capital Kohima town.
Also, three district coordination centres (DCC) from where all the assistance needed will be dispatched to, have been set up in the districts of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung.
The same has been implemented by the centre for development of advanced computing (CDAC), which has been engaged by the ministry as the Total Service Provider for the project.
The PSAP will handle all distress signals (viz. voice call, email, SMS, SOS panic request/calls) through ‘112’ calls and provide necessary assistance to the people in distress within the best possible time.
The citizens of Nagaland no longer need to remember multiple helpline numbers, they can simply dial ‘112’ instead.
Launch of ERSS
The ERSS in Nagaland was officially launched on December 1 2018 by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Nagaland is the first of the north-eastern states and the second state in India to launch the single emergency number ‘112’.
Since its launch, the PSAP has been functioning on a 24 x 7 basis with personnel from the various line departments including the police, fire and emergency service and Health & Family Welfare.
The table shows a report on the number of distress calls that were made to ‘112’ till April 2019.
A success story
At 10:05 pm on 09/12/18, a woman returning home alone and harassed by miscreants on the streets of Dimapur dialled ‘112.’
Understanding the immediate need for assistance, the DCC at Dimapur dispatched a police patrol vehicle at 10:08 pm, 1.7 km away to reach her location. The police reached her in about minutes (time taken since distress call received-7 minutes) and ensured her safety, the IPR stated.
