Bengaluru police to deploy AI-based Multilingual voice agent for 112 helpline
Bengaluru: In a major move aimed at ensuring inclusive and accessible emergency services, the Bengaluru city police is set to deploy an AI-powered multilingual voice agent on the 112 emergency helpline. This advanced system will allow callers to seek assistance in a range of Indian and foreign languages, easing communication challenges often faced by migrant workers, international tourists, and students, reported Moneycontrol.com.
According to a tender floated by the city police, the AI voice assistant will initially support Indian languages such as Bengali, Gujarati, Odia, Manipuri, Kashmiri, Nepali, and Assamese. It will also cater to international callers by offering language options including Spanish, French, and Arabic.
The document accessed by Moneycontrol.com further states that the AI system is flexible and can be quickly trained to accommodate additional languages based on future requirements.
Quoting an official, Moneycontrol.com reported, “The AI voice assistant can understand and communicate in multiple languages. It will be integrated into the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS 112) to help eliminate the language barriers that often delay or block emergency response.”
Currently, the 112 helpline is staffed by around 100 personnel proficient in Kannada, English, and Hindi. Some staff members can also handle Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. However, with the city being a magnet for people from across India and beyond, the limitations of human language proficiency have posed challenges during crisis calls. The integration of AI tools is expected to address these issues comprehensively.
The development comes in the wake of a recent controversy where Bengaluru Police were accused of asking a Spanish tourist to speak in Kannada during a burglary emergency. However, police clarified that no such call was received at the time and the issue was acted upon the following morning based on a neighbour’s report.
Beyond simple translation, the AI voice agent will have the ability to adapt its responses based on the nature of the emergency. Whether it’s a missing child, a medical emergency, or a fire, the system can frame context-specific questions and relay information to relevant departments such as ambulances or fire brigades. Equipped with location-tracking capabilities, it will also help pinpoint callers’ positions more accurately.
A senior police official, speaking to Moneycontrol.com, stated, “In situations where every second counts, being able to communicate instantly in one’s native language could be the difference between life and death.”
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Road crash in UP leaves 10 dead
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) (PTI): Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said.
The van was going to Sisaiya from Lakhimpur when the accident took place between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages.
Circle Officer of Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, said all nine passengers travelling in the van and the driver were killed.
District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters that the van collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction, leading to nine casualties on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries at the district hospital.
Circle Officer, Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh told PTI, "Efforts are on to establish the identity of other deceased persons."
The seven of the deceased have been identified as Jaideep Singh (25), Pawan (23), Sohan (21), Ram Goyal (42), Sahajram (35), Pappu (18), all residents of Bahraich district and Adnan Khan (15), a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said.
Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a post on X, said, "The loss of life in the unfortunate road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families."
"I have directed the local administration to provide prompt and adequate assistance to the injured and the victims. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at His divine feet and to bestow a speedy recovery upon the injured," Adityanath said on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak too condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
"The loss of lives resulting from the road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply tragic and heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families," Maurya said.
