Telangana police Dial-112 handles over 500 emergency calls during Medaram Jathara

Hyderabad: A temporary Dial-112 emergency response call centre set up by the Telangana Police at Medaram in Mulugu district successfully handled more than 500 emergency calls during the biennial Sammakka Saralamma Jathara, ensuring swift response and public safety at Asia’s largest tribal congregation.

Temporary Dial-112 facility at Medaram

The special Dial-112 call centre functioned from January 18 to 31 at Medaram in Mulugu district, coinciding with the peak period of the Jathara.

The facility was established to manage emergencies promptly amid the massive influx of devotees.

According to the Telangana Integrated Command Control Centre (TGICCC), the temporary unit was equipped with two dispatch desks and operated round-the-clock in four shifts, ensuring uninterrupted emergency response services.

Focused emergency response and coordination

All emergency calls related to the Jatara were routed exclusively to the Medaram Dial-112 desk for quicker handling and focused coordination.

Each incident was immediately registered and dispatched to the nearest response vehicle.

Field-level coordination was strengthened through VHF wireless communication, enabling real-time interaction between the control unit and ground personnel.

The dispatch team also worked closely with drone surveillance units, significantly enhancing situational awareness and aiding faster decision-making in crowd management and emergency response.

Unified emergency number 112

The Dial-112 system, launched by the state police last year, integrates emergency services including police, fire, ambulance, disaster relief and women and child safety.

The main 112-call centre operates from the Telangana Integrated Command and Control Centre Building, with the Medaram unit functioning as a dedicated temporary extension during the Jatara.

TGICCC officials said the effective functioning of the temporary Dial-112 centre played a crucial role in maintaining public safety and providing immediate assistance to lakhs of devotees.

Smooth conduct of the Jathara

While devotees have been visiting Medaram for over two weeks, the main celebrations were held from January 28 to 31.

Lakhs of devotees from Telangana and other parts of the country attended the event, regarded as one of the world’s largest tribal religious congregations.

Rooted in deep faith and age-old traditions, devotees offered turmeric, vermilion, jaggery, rice and cloth to the tribal deities Sammakka and Saralamma as part of their sacred vows. The priests ceremonially took the deities back to the forests on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the biennial Jatara.

Massive arrangements and security deployment

Anticipating heavy footfall, the State government, district administration and police made elaborate arrangements for traffic regulation, queue supervision and crowd safety. Systematic review of queue management ensured smooth movement across the Jatara premises.

The State government said it has spent Rs 251 crore for the development of the jathara at Medaram and creation of permanent infrastructure for the festival. Over 42,000 officers and employees from 21 departments were deployed to provide amenities, assisted by around 2,000 Adivasi volunteers.

For security, nearly 13,000 police personnel were deployed, supported by an AI-based drone policing system for effective monitoring. Additionally, more than 200 expert swimmers were stationed at the Jampanna Vagu stream to prevent any untoward incidents during the holy dip.

Officials said the coordinated efforts of multiple departments ensured that the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara concluded smoothly and peacefully.