NHAI and Amrita Hospital partner to strengthen highway emergency response on World Head Injury Awareness Day

India records the highest number of road fatalities globally, with approximately 178,000 deaths each year. Recognising the need for a stronger emergency response system, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, on World Head Injury Awareness Day, 20 March. This partnership marks the launch of a long-term polytrauma awareness campaign, Sar Salamat toh Ghar Salamat, which will provide training to NHAI ambulance personnel, private ambulance operators, and Haryana Police Patrol vehicles, with a focus on highway emergency response.

As part of the initiative, over 50 ambulance workers received hands-on training on 23 March from Dr Gaurav Kakkar, Senior Consultant, Lead Neuro-Anaesthesia & Neurocritical Care, on critical interventions for road accident victims and emergency preparedness. The training will continue every three months to build a nationwide emergency response workforce. A biker’s rally was also organised to spread awareness. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s commitment under the Stockholm Declaration to reduce road fatalities and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.

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 specialised training regularly. By improving emergency response, we move closer to safer roads.”

Mohammad Safi, Regional Officer – Delhi, NHAI, stated, “India’s roads witness alarming fatalities, with the national highways and expressways accounting for 39.2 per cent 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 empowering ambulance workers to act effectively nationwide. The programme’s large-scale, long-term impact will serve as a model for highway emergency response training across India.”

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