Tripura Forest Department’s “24×7” Emergency Control Room Number Found Non-Functional, Raising Questions Over Wildlife Emergency Response

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 12, 2026

Serious questions have been raised over the reliability of the Tripura Forest Department’s emergency communication system after its officially published telephone number for the “Forest Protection Control Room (24×7) & Wildlife Related Emergency Queries” was reportedly found to be non-functional.

The Forest Department’s official website lists 0381-2320074 as the telephone number of its 24×7 Forest Protection Control Room and wildlife emergency contact. However, according to information reportedly obtained from BSNL, the number 0381-2320074, along with the corresponding 2320074 connection, continues to be recorded as an old conventional landline connection and has reportedly not been migrated to FTTH.

The issue assumes significance because conventional landline services have progressively been migrated to newer FTTH-based connections. If the department’s designated emergency number has indeed ceased to function, its continued publication on an official government website as a 24×7 emergency contact raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the department’s emergency response mechanism.

The central question is straightforward: How can a telephone number that is reportedly non-functional continue to be displayed on an official government website as a 24×7 Forest Protection Control Room and wildlife emergency number?

The Forest Department’s website currently displays three relevant contact numbers: 0381-2310074 for the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Headquarters; 0381-2320074 for the Forest Protection Control Room (24×7) and Wildlife Related Emergency Queries; and 0381-3510096 for the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife).

Attempts to contact the listed numbers have reportedly produced concerning results. According to the information available, 0381-2320074 and 0381-2310074 are completely non-functional, while 0381-3510096 reportedly continues to ring without any response despite repeated attempts.

The situation is particularly concerning because these are not merely routine office contacts. One of the numbers is specifically identified as a 24×7 emergency control room, meaning members of the public may reasonably depend on it to report wildlife emergencies, forest-related incidents, illegal activities, animal rescues and other urgent situations.

For a state such as Tripura, where large areas are covered by forests and human-wildlife interactions occur periodically, dependable communication with the Forest Department is particularly important. Encounters involving elephants, leopards, snakes and other wildlife can require immediate intervention to protect both people and animals. In such circumstances, delays in reaching the concerned authorities could potentially increase risks for local communities as well as wildlife.

A non-functional emergency number could leave citizens unable to immediately alert forest officials during a crisis. It could also create confusion among police personnel, district administrations, NGOs, wildlife rescuers, local volunteers and members of the public who rely on official government directories for emergency contacts.

The matter also raises broader questions about the maintenance and monitoring of government websites. Emergency telephone numbers are among the most sensitive information published by public authorities because citizens generally assume that such numbers have been verified and remain operational. If a number is changed, discontinued or migrated to another service, the corresponding official website and other public communication platforms should ideally be updated without delay.

The Forest Department may therefore need to urgently verify the operational status of every telephone number currently displayed on its official website. If the existing 24×7 control room has shifted to another number, the alternative contact should be prominently published and widely circulated through the department’s website, official social media platforms, district administrations, police authorities and other relevant channels.

There is also a need for a regular mechanism to test emergency telephone numbers. Periodic verification calls could help government departments identify disconnected lines, unanswered numbers, outdated contacts or communication failures before citizens encounter difficulties during actual emergencies.

The reported condition of the Forest Department’s listed numbers is especially significant because the department is responsible not only for routine forest administration but also for responding to wildlife-related emergencies and protecting forest resources. A reliable round-the-clock communication channel is therefore not simply an administrative convenience; it is an essential public-service requirement.

The Forest Department’s response to the reported non-functionality of 0381-2320074 and 0381-2310074, the lack of response on 0381-3510096, and the availability of any alternative emergency arrangements is now awaited.

Until the matter is clarified and functional emergency contacts are prominently communicated, the continued display of a reportedly non-functional telephone number as a “24×7” Forest Protection Control Room risks undermining public confidence in the state’s wildlife and forest emergency response system.

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