Only 0.28% of nearly 16 lakh daily emergency calls in Telangana are genuine; Police to deploy AI tools in emergency response system

The Telangana police is set to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) tools in its emergency response system to tackle the large number of spam or non-emergency calls. According to official data, only about 0.28% of the nearly 16 lakh calls received daily on Telangana’s integrated emergency response network turn into police complaints or emergency responses. Officials said the AI technology will assist operators in filtering calls, analyse patterns, track conversion rates, monitor emergency dispatches and improve response time.

The State’s Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), which integrates the 112 emergency helpline and Dial 100, handles an average of 16 lakh calls per day. Yet only around 4,500 calls a day result in police intervention or emergency response.

The State’s 112 helpline, India’s unified emergency number for police, fire, medical and disaster services, receives 14 lakh calls every day, which can go up to 15 lakh - 16 lakh on some days. Of these, only around 500 to 600 calls, approximately 0.04%, are identified as genuine emergencies requiring dispatch of personnel after being filtered through interactive voice response system.

Officials said between 1% and 2% of the calls originate from outside Telangana, while a substantial number are spam calls. Dial 100 receives around 20,000 calls on an average day, which can go up to 50,000. Of these, roughly 4,000 calls, or about 20%, result in police complaints or emergency responses.

“Many callers contact us for information, to follow up on earlier complaints, report traffic congestion or alert police to suspicious activity in their area,” said an official overseeing backend ERSS operations.

Call surge late evening

Call volumes generally begin rising from around 7.30 p.m. and remain elevated through the night. Domestic disputes and community-related issues account for the largest share of emergency calls, followed by distress and suicide-related incidents. Seasonal factors also influence demand, with the ongoing monsoon triggering an increase in calls related to traffic disruptions, waterlogging and fallen trees.

Despite the heavier call volume during evening and night hours, response times are often quicker after dark. Officials attribute this to lighter traffic conditions and fewer competing operational demands, allowing police teams to reach incident locations faster.

Response time

At present, Telangana’s average emergency response time is around 15 minutes in Hyderabad and between 20 and 30 minutes in towns and rural areas.

Telangana currently relies on patrol vehicles that perform multiple functions. The same vehicles are routinely deployed for bandobast duties, court-related assignments, regular patrolling and emergency response, stretching resources across competing priorities.