Bhubaneswar: It is a matter of great concern that there are elements in our society, deprived of sensitivity, to an extent that they engage in hoax call with emergency telephone numbers.
A case in point is the prank callers at 108 emergency service, which has compounded into a menace. The gravity of the matter can be assessed from the fact that responders of this critical service have raised a flag.
“This has become cause of concern nowadays. How can people be so insensitive. The time they engage us on the phone, keeping the system busy, can be critical for someone in dire need of help,” an 108 responder said.
For emergency services in India, 108 is a free telephone number. Currently operational in 18 states and two Union Territories, 108 is specifically meant for providing integrated medical, police and fire emergency services.
The responders get around 10 to 11,000 calls a day out of which 1% are prank calls. “The policy says, we disconnet the call immediately but we realise it only after the person on the other side has consumed a good one to two minutes of our time, pretending as someone in need of help,” he added.
Women responders are bothered more in comparison to the males, sources said. There are no issues, but these nuisance elements call up 108 and keep on talking, disturb and spoil valuable time. “It is high time, such matters are brought to the notice of law enforcement agencies, and action taken against such people,” a 108 ambulance driver said.
“Many of them even call for an ambulance to their place without any reason, which is literally a crime, because this is misutlisation of emergency services,” the driver said and added, “I urge such people to refrain from seeking enjoyment in such activities. Wastage of our valuable time can be a question of life and death for someone.”
