1,384 babies delivered inside 108 ambulances across J&K in six years
TAUSEEF AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Dec 31: Jammu and Kashmir’s free-of-cost 108 emergency ambulance service has firmly established itself as the backbone of pre-hospital emergency healthcare in the Union Territory, responding to a staggering 8,18,950 emergency calls between 2020 and 2025, official data reveals. The figures underline the growing dependence of people—especially in remote, rural and hard-to-reach areas—on the service for timely medical intervention.
Data accessed by Kashmir Despatch shows a steady and sharp rise in the utilisation of the 108 service over the past six years. The number of patients served annually more than doubled, rising from 39,508 in 2020 to a peak of 89,825 in 2024, before a marginal dip to 82,766 patients in 2025. Despite the slight decline this year, officials attribute it to improved preventive care and better referral mechanisms rather than reduced efficiency.
The total number of emergency responses also witnessed a dramatic jump, increasing from 69,233 cases in 2020 to 1,71,454 cases in 2024, reflecting growing public awareness and trust in the toll-free emergency service. In 2025 alone, the 108 network attended to around 1.57 lakh emergency calls, further reinforcing its status as a critical lifeline for the population.
Medical emergencies constituted the largest share of cases, with 2,24,916 patients transported to healthcare facilities during the six-year period. This was followed by 1,16,828 pregnancy-related emergencies, highlighting the service’s vital role in maternal healthcare, particularly in far-flung areas where access to hospitals remains challenging.
One of the most striking indicators of the service’s impact is the number of childbirths conducted inside ambulances. Between 2020 and 2025, as many as 1,384 babies were delivered inside 108 ambulances across Jammu and Kashmir, underscoring the service’s life-saving role for expectant mothers during critical moments when reaching hospitals in time was not possible.
Road traffic accidents continued to place a heavy burden on emergency services, with 20,750 trauma cases related to vehicle accidents attended during the period. Fire-related emergencies, though relatively fewer, showed a consistent rise—from single-digit cases in 2020 to 470 cases in 2025, taking the total to 1,101 fire incidents handled over six years.
The data also reflects the gradual strengthening of advanced life support facilities within the 108 network. Between 2023 and 2025, ambulances equipped with ventilators transported 1,563 critically ill patients, marking a significant upgrade in emergency response capabilities. Additionally, the service handled 13,127 PDA and allied emergency cases, further broadening its scope beyond routine medical transport.
Health officials said the rising numbers point not only to increased awareness among the public but also to enhanced operational capacity, better-trained staff and improved infrastructure. The service played a particularly crucial role during health emergencies, extreme weather conditions, accidents and crises, often acting as the first point of medical contact.
As Jammu and Kashmir marks the end of 2025, the performance of the 108 ambulance service stands out as a silent yet indispensable pillar of public healthcare, saving thousands of lives and ensuring that timely medical help reaches people when they need it the most.
