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
Aneesh Dayal Singh IPS
Aneesh Dayal Singh Appointed Deputy NSA; Former DG of CRPF, ITBP to Oversee Internal Security Affairs
Rajasthan-Police
Rajasthan Govt Transfers 4 IPS Officers, Posts 6 Trainee Officers Across Jaipur, Alwar & Jodhpur
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Set to Promote Two IPS Officers to Director General of Police
Complaint
Complaint Filed Against Senior IPS Officer for Sending Inappropriate Messages
Jammu and Kashmir Government
Three IAS Officers Assigned New Postings in J&K; Check Names Here
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
Senior IAS Officer Rajendra Ratnoo Opts for Voluntary Retirement
SEBI
SEBI Appoints 3 New Executive Directors: Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey & Sanjay Purao Take Charge
Lateral_entry_resized
No Reservation in Lateral Govt Job Entries, Centre Tells Rajya Sabha Citing Single-Post Rule
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
karanraj-vaghela-e1640240276857-1
Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Singh Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Aneesh Dayal Singh IPS
Aneesh Dayal Singh Appointed Deputy NSA; Former DG of CRPF, ITBP to Oversee Internal Security Affairs
Rajasthan-Police
Rajasthan Govt Transfers 4 IPS Officers, Posts 6 Trainee Officers Across Jaipur, Alwar & Jodhpur
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
karanraj-vaghela-e1640240276857-1
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT