Government Launches 24-Hour Disaster Call Centers in All 77 Districts

Kathmandu. The government has launched disaster call centers to operate 24 hours a day in all 77 districts of the country. This arrangement has been made as per one hundred agendas related to governance reform approved by the Council of Ministers on Jestha 13, 2082 BS.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that call centers have been established in the emergency operation centers of all 77 districts in accordance with the decision to implement Delivery-Based Governance in a framework that transforms the overall performance of the government to be result-oriented, effective, measurable, and accountable, and to bring direct improvement in citizens' lives.

Previously, the toll-free number '1149' was in operation for citizens and service recipients to contact for disaster-related information, problems, complaints, and suggestions. While this number was operated only from the central level, the need arose for calls made by citizens to be addressed at the district level.

The Ministry has changed the former disaster toll-free number '1149' to '1234'. This new number has been in operation since Ashadh 26, 2083 BS. Arrangements have been made for calls coming to this number to be routed to the district level. Accordingly, arrangements have been made for the call to go to the District Emergency Operation Center (DEOC) of the district where the contact person is located.

From now on, calls made to '1234' from the districts of Kathmandu Valley, namely Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, will be addressed by the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) located in Singha Durbar. For the remaining 74 districts, arrangements have been made for calls to be addressed by the respective District Emergency Operation Center (DEOC), informed Anand Kafle, spokesperson and joint secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also requested the public to strictly follow the advisories issued by the Government of Nepal regarding disasters, to remain alert, and to stay safe.