https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Long Before Dial-108, This IPS Brought Hotline To Highways 

Indian Masterminds Stories

For many years Indians had to dial 100, 101 and 102 separately, if they needed police, fire or medical helps. It was not until 2005, that Dial 108 was launched to provide an integrated emergency helpline. But do you know, an IPS officer brought emergency services on highways back in the 1990s.

IPS Dr Amar Kumar Pandey who retired as Director General of Police (Karnataka) spoke to Indian Masterminds about his initial days in service much before he brought back infamous gangster Ravi Pujari.

AMBULANCE SERVICE ON HIGHWAYS 

The Dharwad district approximately 425 km from Bengaluru has the NH4 crisscrossing it for about 250 km. In the 1990s traffic would move on the then two-lane highway without any divider. 

Hundreds of lives were lost each year in accidents. Victims waited hours till police reached the spot and they were moved into hospitals. The golden hour was lost. 

Many such incidents disturbed Dr. Pandey who was SP, Dharwad in 1996. 

He set up emergency centres Jeevan Raksha Kendra on the highway, with the help of local MPs (the district came under four parliamentary constituencies).

“My team procured four Maruti Omni vans turned into ambulances, starting with the first one from the police department. Twelve policemen were trained in St John’s Ambulance Drills,” he shared. 

A veteran army man, who had joined police, was put in charge to train the other police personnel. The next concern was telephone connection. 

An STD Booth for making calls to inform next of kin was set up in the police control room. Information from spot via wireless to CR operator would reach the victim’s family by phone. 

Explaining each role, the retired officer said, “The trained cops could distinguish between serious and non-serious injuries and accordingly hastened treatment. The hospitals along the highway were enlisted. They were to extend emergency on SOSes from police CR.”

Advance intimation to hospitals ensured staff were prepared with necessary logistics including doctors. This saved many lives. 

Soon Jeevan Raksha Kendra was duplicated in Belgaum and Mandya districts of Karnataka. 

It was the precursor to 108 that came almost a decade later, but the officer doesn’t claim it was picked from Jeevan Raksha Kendra. 

He retired as DGP Fire And Emergency Services (Karnataka)

FOND MEMORIES 

Dr Pandey came from Bihar and served for 33 years in Karnataka. He enjoyed his time as police officer in the southern state. 

For him there are many similarities in both the state besides, the people, who are generous and compassionate. He cherishes his tenure in undivided Dharwad as SP.

With the government’s help he had also set up a police children residential school. It was the first of its kind boarding school for children of policemen. 

He had also established a residential colony based on cooperative model for the police personnel, who named it after him as Amar Nagar.

The officer, who struck fear in hearts of many gangster and also served as Commissioner Youth Affairs and Sports, Director Police Academy, Inspector General of Bangalore (Central) and Additional Director General of Internal Security Division, says as an officer his work brought him immense satisfaction. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Zorawar Lightweight Tank
Zorawar Lightweight Tank: DRDO & L&T’s Game-Changing Answer to China’s Armour, Enters Final Ladakh Trials
SAMANVAY 2025
From Labs to Battlefield: DRDO Hands Over 8 Indigenous Defence Techs Through 12 Licensing Agreements in SAMANVAY 2025
India’s cybersecurity ecosystem
India’s Cybersecurity Ecosystem Rises to Global Prominence – 400+ Startups, 6.5 Lakh Professionals, and CERT-In Fuel a $20 Billion Revolution
MCL Town Hall project Patnagarh
MCL Allocates Rs 9.97 Crore for Town Hall Project in Patnagarh, Strengthening Community Infrastructure in Odisha
SAIL
SAIL Reports 53% Decline in Q2 FY26 Profit to Rs 418 Crore, Revenue Surges Amid Strong Sales Volume
Railtel
RailTel Achieves 27% Growth in Q2 FY26, Reports Rs 966 Crore Income and Announces Interim Dividend
NMDC Steel Ltd
NMDC Achieves Record-Breaking Q2 FY26 with 23% Growth in Production and 33% Increase in PAT
HPCL_logo_HIndustan Petroleum
Results: HPCL Reports 731% Surge in H1 FY26 Profit, Driven by Strong Refining & Marketing Performance
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Zorawar Lightweight Tank
Zorawar Lightweight Tank: DRDO & L&T’s Game-Changing Answer to China’s Armour, Enters Final Ladakh Trials
SAMANVAY 2025
From Labs to Battlefield: DRDO Hands Over 8 Indigenous Defence Techs Through 12 Licensing Agreements in SAMANVAY 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT