An all in one pan-India emergency number was launched on February 19 by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, which would also be accessible through panic buttons in mobiles. 112- is a single number emergency service which would be linked to police, fire services, health services, and other necessary helplines. It is launched to help people in distress, especially women. 112 is being made available in 16 states and Union Territories and Mumbai city, for now, the service will gradually be extended to other states as well.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also launched ‘112 India’ mobile app for women and children which will be available on Google Play store and Apple store. The app will have a special emergency ‘shout’ feature which would alert registered volunteers or police personnel in the vicinity of the victim’s location for immediate help. This emergency service number was initially launched only in Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland. The ‘112’ emergency number will now be available in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman, Dadar Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu, Jammu, and Kashmir along with the city of Mumbai.
