Broken Emergency Helplines Leave Public at Risk: Firefighters Demand Immediate Restoration of Landlines Across Sepahijala District

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 29, 2026

A serious communication crisis in Tripura's emergency response system has come under the spotlight after personnel of the Bishramganj Fire & Emergency Services Station alleged that their official landline telephone has remained out of order for a prolonged period, preventing the public from reporting emergencies promptly.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, firefighters said that because the official landline is non-functional, many incidents are either reported late or not reported at all. As a result, fire service personnel often fail to reach the scene in time, leading to public anger and criticism despite the delay being caused by a communication failure beyond their control.

"We appeal to the higher authorities to restore our landline connection immediately so that people can contact us without difficulty during emergencies," the Bishramganj Fire personnel said.

However, the issue appears to be far more widespread than a single fire station.

Investigations and public feedback suggest that dysfunctional landline telephones have become a common problem across several government departments in Tripura. Similar complaints have surfaced from a number of police stations, where official landline numbers are reportedly either out of service or no longer attended. In several cases, departments have replaced landline connections with official mobile phones, but the new mobile numbers have never been publicly notified.

Adding to the confusion, many government websites continue to display outdated contact numbers. In numerous instances, the mobile number listed belongs to an officer who has already been transferred, while the website remains unupdated. Citizens attempting to contact emergency services or government offices are often met with switched-off phones, invalid numbers, or unanswered calls.

The problem is not confined to the Fire & Emergency Services or the Police Department. Similar allegations have emerged regarding several other government offices, including departments functioning under the State Secretariat. Citizens have complained that official websites still display obsolete landline numbers instead of current mobile contact details of ministers, secretaries, directors and senior officials, making it difficult to access them for essential public services.

Communication experts point out that in emergency situations such as fires, road accidents, medical emergencies, crimes or natural disasters, even a delay of a few minutes can prove critical. An outdated or non-functional emergency contact system not only delays response but also undermines public confidence in government institutions.

The situation has prompted demands for the State Government to undertake a comprehensive audit of all official contact numbers across departments. Citizens and emergency responders alike are urging the administration to immediately restore non-functional landlines wherever necessary, publish updated official mobile numbers of all essential services including police stations, fire service stations, DM, SDM, BDOs and all departmentsheads, regularly update departmental websites, and widely publicise verified emergency helpline numbers through websites, newspapers, television, social media and public awareness campaigns.

Many have also suggested that the government should maintain a single, regularly updated digital directory containing verified contact numbers of all essential services, including Fire & Emergency Services, Police, Ambulance, Disaster Management, hospitals, electricity, drinking water, Pipeline gas, women and child helplines, national highway emergency contacts and other critical public utilities.

Observers believe that ensuring functional emergency communication is not merely an administrative requirement but a matter of public safety. They argue that a comprehensive update and public notification of all emergency contact numbers should be treated as an urgent governance priority, ensuring that citizens can seek assistance without delay whenever lives and property are at risk.

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