108 received 31,000 calls this Deepavali

The 108-ambulance service received 31,000 calls, including those on cracker injuries, until Wednesday afternoon and sent out 4,800 emergency dispatches during that period.

The 108-control room, which was functioning at full strength 24x7 to handle all the calls that come through, received 30 per cent more calls this year, as compared to last year. Besides, the number of emergency dispatches too were higher. “We made 4,800 emergency dispatches this year. Last year the number stood at 4,400,” said a source.

“The staff have been busy with the calls since Monday and they are expected to continue the whole of Wednesday as well,” he said. “We had ensured that ambulances were stationed at important bus stops, railway stations and at highways – the hotspots for which we had already identified — to handle all cases that needed emergency care immediately,” the source added.

Besides, he said that calls to the 104-helpline service also saw a substantial rise this year. “Doctors and nurses were available throughout to talk to persons in need of health advice this Deepavali. Counsellors were also available through the period. Last year, we had received 1517 calls, while this year, we received 2,350 calls,” the source said.