An emergency in an unknown place while you are traveling can be a confusing and frightening experience. This blog is a guide for foreigners about what to do in emergencies in India. From medical emergencies to thefts and accidents, we tell you how to be prepared for any emergency in India.
What are some important emergency contacts in India?
- 112 – Universal emergency helpline
- 100 – Police
- 101 – Fire brigade
- 102/108 – Ambulance
- 1091 – Women’s helpline number
- 1098 – Child helpline
- 1077 – Disaster Management helpline
- 1363 – Tourist helpline (Toll-free in India)
What to do in case of medical emergencies in India?
There can be many types of medical emergencies, and such an emergency in a foreign country can be scary.
- It is important to remain calm in such situations and call for emergency services.
- If you have a fever or are sick, visit the nearest doctor. Most common viral fevers can be easily cured with doctor’s prescription medicines.
- If it is more serious, such as a cardiac arrest or an illness, call 102 or 108 for an ambulance. Visit the nearest hospital. Most large cities have good private hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, and AIIMS with international standards.
- Travel insurance could be very useful in cases like these. Keep your insurance copy and passport handy.
- Keep a first-aid kit with you while traveling, containing the basic medicines, bandaids, bandages, and sanitizer.
What to do in case of theft in India?
- If your bag, wallet, or passport is stolen, file an FIR immediately at the nearest police station. This document will be required for insurance claim and your embassy.
- If you have a lost passport, you will need to get a temporary replacement passport or emergency travel document to leave the country.
- If your visa was also stolen, visit the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for a visa replacement.
What to do in case of lost money or cards in India?
- If you have lost your money or debit and credit cards, the first step is to call your bank and block all your cards. Contact the bank’s international helpline for emergency cash assistance.
- A forex card can help you get quick replacements in major Indian metropolitan cities.
- You can also visit your embassy if you need help contacting your family to wire emergency funds.
What to do if you are in an accident in India?
- If you are in a traffic accident, call 108 or 112 for help. You might find crowds gathering around the place, but most will try to help you.
- Report the accident at a police station.
- If you need car rentals, you can contact your rental agency. It is a good idea to have travel insurance in such cases so that you can claim it back.
- Unless you have experience with India’s local traffic, it is recommended that you do not drive in India.
What to do if there is a natural disaster in India?
- If natural disasters have caused road blocks or flooding, call the disaster management helpline.
- Keep checking local news and government alerts.
- Keep emergency items like packaged water, dry food, passport, phone, and charger handy.
- Stay in touch with your embassy or consulate.
- If you are in the midst of the action or stranded somewhere, head to the nearest police station or control room.
What should be in your emergency kit?
- Packaged drinking water
- Non-perishable, dry food
- Torch with extra batteries
- First-aid kit with essential medicines
- Extra cash
- Sanitary napkins, toilet paper, sanitizer
- Emergency contact details
- Copies of important documents
Read more: Medical travel kit checklist for India
Some extra tips
- Keep local contacts saved in your phone, such as your hotel, guide, embassy, etc. Keep a copy of your emergency contacts on a piece of paper you can carry with you.
- Keep digital copies of all your documents on your email or cloud storage.
- Share your detailed itinerary with a few people back home.
- Keep a first-aid kit and emergency kit with you.
- Avoid walking alone in isolated areas, especially at night.
- Use registered cabs or apps like Ola and Uber to travel.
- Trust your instincts.
Did you find this blog useful? Let us know! At India Someday, we curate personalized itineraries to India for you based on your likes and dislikes. We also help you with useful hacks and practical tips to make your trip seamless and fun. Contact us and together we can plan the perfect trip to India for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 112 is India’s universal emergency number, similar to the number 911 in the USA. 112 works for many services like police, fire brigade, and ambulance. Many existing numbers, such as 100 for police, are also redirected to 112.
If you mistakenly dial 112 in India, do not hang up. Stay on the line and tell the phone operator that it was a false alarm. This can help avoid unnecessary dispatch of emergency services to your location.
Dialing 100 in India routes your call to a Police Control Room or Emergency Response Centre which are equipped to handle any emergency situation. Once they receive your call, your location is identified, a report is made, and it is passed on to a dispatch team after which a patrol vehicle responds to the incident.
About Aishwarya Shete
Aishwarya Shete is a content writer at India Someday. Her passions are writing, photography, and more importantly, food. She hopes to travel the world someday and document it through her pictures and words.
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