The single emergency number '112' will be operational throughout India from January 1 to help people reach immediate services of police, ambulance and fire department.<br/><br/>Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has approved the provision of a single number for various emergency services that would be similar to the '911' all-in-one emergency service in the United States. The service will also be accessible even through those SIMs and landlines whose outgoing call facility has been stopped or temporarily suspended. <br/><br/>A person in distress will need to call only 112, which will direct the call to concerned departments immediately for help. All existing emergency numbers will be phased out within a year of rolling out 112, depending upon the awareness about this new facility.