Bhubaneswar, Sept 23: The first few hours following a road accident, often referred to as the “golden hour,” are critical for saving the lives of seriously injured victims. In a bid to ensure faster emergency response, the Odisha Transport Department is set to introduce a WhatsApp-based chatbot for the general public.
The digital platform, reportedly named ‘Ama Rasta’, will allow pedestrians, motorists and eyewitnesses to report road accidents and share the live location of the incident. The information will help authorities quickly dispatch ambulances and other emergency services to the accident site.
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According to a senior Transport Department official, the WhatsApp number for the service will be 7289911033. Eyewitnesses will be able to upload details of an accident through the platform. Once a report is received, the nearest police station, government ambulance services and officials of the concerned Regional Transport Office (RTO) will be alerted.
The system is expected to facilitate faster rescue operations and help authorities reach injured victims without delay.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and police will also be able to use the information to remove accident-damaged vehicles from the road at the earliest and restore normal traffic movement.
Initially, the digital platform will be introduced on a pilot basis along select accident-prone and sensitive stretches of road.
The Transport Department already has a network of trained volunteers to assist in emergency rescue operations. More than 12,000 NCC cadets have reportedly been trained as Junior Rakshaks. In addition, over 8,000 garages and shopkeepers located along state and national highways have been engaged as Rakshaks to assist accident victims.
These trained volunteers often provide basic first aid to injured people before ambulances arrive at the scene.
With the proposed ‘Ama Rasta’ initiative, Rakshaks and Junior Rakshaks are expected to play a more active role in emergency response. Their mobile numbers and other relevant details will be integrated into the digital platform, enabling them to receive accident alerts through the WhatsApp chatbot and reach the site more quickly.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening the emergency response network and reducing delays in providing medical assistance during the crucial golden hour following a road accident.
