112: one number for every emergency
India’s Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, brings police, fire and health emergency services under one number: 112. Your call reaches the state Emergency Response Centre, which shares your location with the nearest response vehicle. You can also trigger a panic call by pressing a smartphone’s power button three times quickly, by long-pressing 5 or 9 on a feature phone, or through the 112 India app.
In Uttar Pradesh the police emergency service is UP 112. Many states also route the older police (100) and fire (101) numbers into 112, but dialling 112 directly is the safest habit.
Ambulance: 108 or 102?
| Number | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | Emergencies — accidents, trauma, heart attack, critical illness | Emergency response ambulance, operated under NHM |
| 102 | Pregnant women, newborns and children — home to hospital, referral and drop-back | Free transport under schemes such as JSSK in many states including UP |
| 112 | Any emergency when unsure | The call-taker can dispatch ambulance, police or fire |
Lost money online? Call 1930 first
The national cyber-crime helpline 1930 works in all states. Calling quickly matters: the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting system connects police with banks and wallets so the money can be frozen before it is withdrawn. After calling, complete the complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with transaction IDs and screenshots.
What to say when you call
- What happened — accident, fire, medical emergency, crime.
- Exact location — house number, street, nearest landmark (temple, school, petrol pump).
- How many people are affected and whether anyone is unconscious or bleeding.
- Your phone number — keep the line free for a call back.
आपातकालीन नंबर — हिंदी में
पुलिस, आग या एम्बुलेंस — किसी भी आपात स्थिति में 112 डायल करें। एम्बुलेंस के लिए 108, गर्भवती महिलाओं और बच्चों के लिए 102, आग के लिए 101, ऑनलाइन ठगी के लिए 1930, महिला हेल्पलाइन 181 और चाइल्ड हेल्पलाइन 1098। गैस रिसाव पर 1906 और ट्रेन में मदद के लिए 139।
Find help near you
NeedKaro lists real places by city: hospitals, blood banks, police stations and fire stations. For a blood emergency, read how to find a blood donor urgently.
FAQ — अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
What is the single emergency number in India?
112. It connects you to police, fire and ambulance through the state Emergency Response Centre. You can also press the power button three times quickly on a smartphone, or long-press 5 or 9 on a feature phone, to send a panic call.
Ambulance ka number kya hai?
108 emergency ambulance hai (accident, heart attack, serious illness). Kai rajyon me, jaise Uttar Pradesh, 102 garbhvati mahilaon aur bachchon ke liye free ambulance hai.
Which number do I call for online fraud?
Call 1930 immediately and also report at cybercrime.gov.in. Quick reporting helps banks freeze the money.
Is 100 still working for police?
Many states now route police (100) and fire (101) calls into the 112 emergency system, and in Uttar Pradesh the police emergency service is UP 112. Dialling 112 is the safest choice everywhere.
Are these numbers free?
112 and the national helplines listed here are toll-free. Still, save the key numbers in your phone and teach children and elders how to use them.
Sources
- Ministry of Home Affairs / ERSS — 112.gov.in; PIB, “Pan-India Emergency Number 112 launched”
- Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), MHA — National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, cybercrime.gov.in (helpline 1930)
- Ministry of Women & Child Development — Women Helpline 181, Child Helpline 1098 (wcd.gov.in)
- Ministry of Social Justice — Elderline 14567 (PIB); MoHFW — Tele-MANAS 14416 (telemanas.mohfw.gov.in)
- National Health Mission — 108/102 ambulance services (nhm.gov.in); UP Police helpline page (uppolice.gov.in) — 112, 101, 108, GRP 1512, 1098
- Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas — LPG emergency 1906 (mopng.gov.in); PIB — Rail Madad 139; NHAI — 1033
NeedKaro is not a government service. Numbers and procedures are taken from official sources on the date above; always follow instructions from the authority you contact.