Karnataka govt approves proposal to bring 108 ambulance service under health dept
Bengaluru, Jun 13 (PTI): Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday said the government has approved the proposal to bring the 108 ambulance service under the direct management of the health department aimed at strengthening emergency healthcare services in the state.
This initiative will end its operation under private control, he added.
Minister said, this move is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of the 108 ambulance service while saving nearly Rs 250 crores for the state exchequer.
A Central Command and Control Centre will be established at the state level to manage a fleet of 715 ambulances and this system will be powered by the '112 NG-ERSS' (Next-Generation Emergency Response Support System) software, Minister said.
Additionally, 108 ambulence control centres will be established in every district, with District Health Officers (DHOs) responsible for operational oversight, he said in a post on 'X'.
Noting that ambulance drivers and nursing staff will be outsourced at district level, Rao said, "We are beginning this transition in Chamarajanagar district and all other districts will follow in phased manner."
"Furthermore, beyond the 108-fleet, we plan to integrate over 1,000 additional state-owned ambulances under the unified 108 ambulance command centre for seamless emergency response," he said, adding that this move marks a bold step towards more accountable, responsive, and cost-effective emergency medical services across Karnataka.
In a major step towards strengthening emergency healthcare services in Karnataka, the state government has approved the proposal to bring the 108 ambulance service under the direct management of the Health Department(@DHFWKA), ending its operation under private control. This move… pic.twitter.com/mDc9d09RjY
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) June 13, 2025
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3 Indians arrested in Canada for shooting outside home
Ottawa (PTI): Three Indian nationals have been arrested by Canadian police on an anti-extortion patrol and charged after bullets were fired at a home.
Harjot Singh (21), Taranveer Singh (19) and Dayajeet Singh Billing (21) face one count each of discharging a firearm, and all have been remanded in custody until Thursday, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) said in a statement on Monday.
The suspects were arrested by patrol officers after an early morning report of shots fired and a small fire outside a home in Surrey's Crescent Beach neighbourhood, the LakelandToday reported.
On February 1, 2026, the SPS members were patrolling in Surrey’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood when reports came in of shots being fired and a small fire outside a residence near Crescent Road and 132 Street.
The three accused were arrested by SPS officers a short time later, the statement said.
SPS’s Major Crime Section took over the investigation, and the three men have now been charged with Criminal Code offences, it said.
All three have been charged with one count each of discharging a firearm into a place contrary to section 244.2(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. All three have been remanded in custody until February 5, 2026.
The SPS has confirmed they are all foreign nationals and has engaged the Canada Border Services Agency, it said.
One of the suspects suffered injuries, including two black eyes, the media report said.
Surrey police Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said on Monday that the suspect had refused to comply with instructions to get out of the ride-share vehicle and started to "actively resist."
"As we were trained, he was taken to the ground and safely handcuffed," said Houghton.
A second suspect with a black eye was also injured in the arrest after refusing to comply, Houghton said.
The arresting officers were part of Project Assurance, an initiative that patrols neighbourhoods that have been targeted by extortion violence.
Houghton said the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is also involved because the men are foreign nationals, and the trio may face additional charges.
It's not clear if the men are in the country on tourist visas, a study permit, or a work permit, but Houghton said CBSA has started its own investigation into the men's status.
Surrey has seen a number of shootings at homes and businesses over the last several months, but there's been an escalation since the new year.
