Bengaluru’s emergency helpline 112 is overwhelmed with silent and hoax calls, constituting 58% of the 26.92 lakh calls made in 2024. A significant number of these calls are unintentional, triggered mistakenly due to built-in mobile emergency features. However, police officials report an alarming trend of nuisance callers deliberately harassing female operators with indecent remarks.
Many of these pranksters, often intoxicated, repeatedly dial the helpline to make lewd comments, ask operators to meet, or mock their voices. Some individuals call up to 30 times a day, forcing supervisors and law enforcement to intervene. Despite this, officials assure that emergency response remains swift, thanks to well-trained personnel and efficient call management.
To tackle this menace, authorities have introduced measures such as blocking prank callers for 24 hours. The police have also urged telecom providers to implement a confirmation step before activating emergency calls to minimize accidental dials.
Meanwhile, severe offenders making vulgar or abusive statements could face legal repercussions. In extreme cases, local police will track down and take action against repeat offenders.
Despite the harassment, 112 operators continue to serve the city with dedication. Officials emphasize that ongoing training and support help them handle distressing situations while ensuring that genuine emergency calls receive immediate attention.
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