Single emergency number �112� to be operational throughout India from January 1, 2017

The single emergency number �112� will be operational throughout India from January 1, 2017 to help people reach immediate services of police, ambulance and fire department. In this regard, Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad approved the provision of a single number for various emergency services. Key facts The single emergency number will be similar to the �911� all-in-one emergency service in the United States and 999 of United Kingdom (UK). The 211 emergency services will also be accessible even through those SIMs and landlines whose outgoing call facility has been stopped or temporarily suspended. Advertisement A person in distress will need to call only 112, which will direct the call to concerned departments immediately for help. All existing emergency numbers will be phased out within a year of rolling out 112, depending upon the awareness about this new facility.