Google has rolled out its Emergency Location Service on Android in India. The company has already started the pilot program in Uttar Pradesh. The feature is built directly into the Android operating system and is designed to help emergency responders find people faster during critical situations.
Emergency Location Service, also known as ELS, activates automatically when a user calls or sends a message to an emergency number such as 112. Once triggered, the system shares the caller’s location with emergency services, even if the person is unable to explain where they are. The feature works on Android phones running version 6.0 and above.
Google first introduced ELS in the United States in 2016. Since then, it has been used in several countries and has helped locate people in life-threatening situations, including medical emergencies and accidents in remote areas. With its launch in India, Google aims to improve response times and coordination between callers and first responders.
The service uses a mix of GPS, Wi Fi, and mobile network signals to estimate the caller’s location. Google says the system can identify a location within a range of about 50 meters. In addition to location data, ELS can also share basic device details such as language settings, which can help emergency operators communicate more effectively.
According to Google, ELS works in different conditions, including when the user is moving or located in areas with limited connectivity. The system runs quietly in the background and does not require users to install any separate app.
Google has stated that Emergency Location Service only activates during an emergency call or message. The location data is sent directly from the phone to emergency services and is not stored or collected by Google.
