NHAI and Amrita Hospital sign MoU to train first responders in highway emergency car

New Delhi: India records the highest number of road fatalities globally, with approximately 178,000 lives lost each year. Recognizing the need for a stronger emergency response system and spreading awareness, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a MoU with Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, on World Head Injury Awareness Day, 20th March.

This collaboration marks the launch of a long-term poly trauma awareness campaign ‘Sar Salamat toh Ghar Salamat’, which will train thousands of NHAI ambulance personnel, private ambulance operators, and Haryana Police Patrol vehicles, with a special focus on highway emergency response. This initiative is a significant leap in road safety training, ensuring that the right people receive critical life-saving skills.

As part of this initiative, over 50 ambulance workers received hands-on training on March 23rd from Dr. Gaurav Kakkar, Senior Consultant, Lead Neuro-Anaesthesia & Neurocritical Care, on critical interventions for road accident victims and emergency preparedness. This is the first step in a large-scale training drive, with periodic sessions every three months, aimed at building a nationwide emergency response workforce. This was further accompanied by a biker’s rally to spread awareness and education. This initiative is in line with the Government of India’s aim to reduce road fatalities and injuries by 50% by the year 2030, as per its commitment under the Stockholm Declaration.

Shri Ajay Tamta, Minister of State, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, said ‘The government has been working dedicatedly with a 4E approach of Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Emergency Care to reduce the number of road accidents by half. Strategic collaborations with institutions like Amrita Hospital are key to achieving this goal. Emergency preparedness remains a crucial step in preventing accident-related deaths and ambulance workers and the police play a vital role in trauma response. This collaboration ensures they receive specialized training regularly. By improving emergency response, we move closer to safer roads.”

Shri Mohammad Safi, Regional Officer – Delhi, NHAI, said, “India’s roads witness alarming fatalities, with the national highways and expressways accounting for 39.2 percent of road accidents, with two-wheelers being the most affected. Strengthening emergency response is essential to reduce these preventable deaths. Through this MoU, we will train ambulance workers in life-saving trauma care. Quick intervention can improve survival rates in accidents. Public awareness and skilled responders together create safer highways. We are committed to supporting road safety through this campaign.”

Swami Vijayamritananda Puri, Amrita Hospital, said “Road safety is more than infrastructure—it is about ensuring that every life matters. Amrita Hospital is committed to training ambulance workers in trauma care. Timely medical intervention increases survival rates significantly, nearly 50 per cent of road fatalities can be averted if medical attention is given within the first hour. This partnership ensures continuous skill-building for emergency responders. Quick, well-trained actions can be the difference between life and death. Through education, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad will remain committed to empower ambulance workers to act effectively nationwide. The program’s large-scale, long-term impact will serve as a model for highway emergency response training across India”

With this initiative, Amrita Hospitals aims to train thousands of ambulance workers in the future. This effort comes at a crucial time, as India accounts for 11% of global road accidents. The annual ‘Sar Salamat toh Ghar Salamat’ campaign will serve as a torchbearer for road safety awareness, emergency preparedness, and responsible driving across the country.