Gujarat: 108 Emergency Calls Expected to Rise 29% During Diwali; Road Accidents May Jump 141% on Gujarati New Year

Emergency services project 6,776 cases on November 10 against a daily average of 5,248; 1,494 ambulances deployed across the state under a zero-leave policy

Gujarat’s 108 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has projected a sharp rise in emergency cases during the Diwali festival, with calls expected to increase by nearly 29% on the Gujarati New Year. The service anticipates 6,776 emergency cases on November 10, compared with the daily average of 5,248.

Based on historical data and trends, the service has also forecast a significant increase in road accidents, burn injuries and physical assault cases during the festive period. To handle the expected rush, 1,494 ambulances have been deployed across Gujarat, while staff leave and weekly offs have been suspended.

Emergency Cases Expected to Peak on Gujarati New Year

According to the 108 EMS projections, emergency cases are expected to rise on all three major festive days:

• Diwali (November 8): 6,111 cases, up 16.44%
• Gujarati New Year (November 10): 6,776 cases, up 29.12%
• Bhai Beej (November 11): 6,453 cases, up 22.96%

The projections indicate that the Gujarati New Year is likely to record the highest number of emergency calls during the period.

Road Accidents May Rise by Nearly 141% on New Year

Road accidents are among the major concerns flagged in the forecast. Against the daily average of 646 vehicle accident cases, the number is expected to increase to 1,216 on Diwali, 1,556 on the Gujarati New Year and 1,016 on Bhai Beej.

This represents an increase of 88.24% on Diwali, 140.87% on the New Year and 57.28% on Bhai Beej. Two-wheeler accidents are expected to account for the majority of these incidents.

The projections also point to a sharp rise in burn injuries and physical assaults. Burn injury cases, which average 11 a day, are expected to reach 73 on Diwali — a surge of 563.64%.

Physical assault cases are projected to rise from the daily average of 204 to 567 on Diwali and 570 on the Gujarati New Year, representing increases of 177.94% and 179.41%, respectively.

14 Districts Likely to Record Higher Emergency Cases

The 108 service has identified 14 districts where emergency cases are expected to exceed their respective daily averages. These include Anand, Aravalli, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Dahod, Gir Somnath, Kutch, Morbi, Narmada, Panchmahal, Porbandar, Surat, Vadodara and Valsad.

The projected peak period for emergency calls is between noon and 11 pm. On Diwali night, call volumes are expected to be particularly high between 8 pm and 11 pm, while another busy period is anticipated between midnight and 5 am.

1,494 Ambulances Deployed; Staff Leave Cancelled

To manage the expected increase in emergency calls, the 108 Emergency Response Centre (ERC) has introduced a special duty roster under a 'zero leave' policy. Weekly offs for staff have also been suspended during the festive period.

Field personnel have been deployed at hospitals, all ambulances have undergone pre-service maintenance, and additional stocks of medicines have been arranged.

The service currently has an average response time of 12 minutes and 53 seconds. Apart from calling 108 for medical emergencies, citizens can also seek assistance through the Dial-112 Janrakshak service.

Jaswant Prajapati, Chief Operating Officer of 108 Emergency Medical Services, Gujarat, said festivals bring a message of joy and unity, but people must remain cautious. He urged citizens to drive carefully, exercise caution while bursting firecrackers and consuming food, and call 108 immediately in case of an emergency.