24X7 Disaster Management Call centre becomes operational

New Delhi, Jun 24 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today inaugurated a Disaster Management Emergency Operation Center in Delhi, aimed at ensuring immediate and effective activation of emergency support functions in case of any disaster in the Capital city.

This state-level emergency Operation Center with four-digit helpline number-1077 has been created as per statutory provision of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Inaugurating the Center at Sham Nath Marg, Ms Dikshit said this call center at the Delhi Disaster Management Authority will work on the toll-free helpline. It is operative round-the-clock in three shifts, with manning by two agents and one supervisor.

In case of any disaster in Delhi, this Call Center will intimate the heads of various Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) through calls or SMSs to immediately activate their Emergency Support Function teams concerned. Call filtering will be done by the Supervisor at the end of the Call Center and by the Deputy Commissioner (DC)/Incident Commander concerned before switching over to activation of higher level of Command System.

The helpline number - 1077 is a four-digit code and will serve as a toll free emergency helpline number for the citizens of Delhi on a 24X7 hour basis. This number will enable the citizens to contact the State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) in case of a disaster.

It will help reduce the response time of various Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) during this situation, thereby improving their coordination and response time. The number, 1077 will act as a centralised helpline number, accessible to all landline as well as cellular numbers. This four-digit code will shift the coordination responsibility to Delhi Disaster Management Authority and the disaster-affected can focus on other immediate requirements. This, in turn will be more productive as it will ensure immediate and effective activation of Emergency Support Functions.

Speaking at the function, where Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta and Development Commissioner Nutan Guha Biswas were present, Ms Dikshit said disaster brought about by natural hazards or man-made are, first and foremost, were thought of in terms of their human consequences.

''The physical and emotional losses they cause have moved us to aspire for a safer world. Since it is inevitable to prevent disasters we are trying to mitigate and control the losses.

Effective Disaster Risk Management remains a primary issue,''she said.

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