The helpline numbers designated for emergencies on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway proved non-functional when a Vadodara-based family found themselves stranded after a tyre burst late at night. Despite multiple calls, no timely assistance was provided, raising serious questions about the reliability of emergency services on this busy route.
Darpanbhai Doshi, a resident of Vadodara, was travelling to Ahmedabad with his wife Vaishaliben and their child around 11 pm to a family function. Just seven kilometres short of the Ahmedabad toll booth, their car suffered a sudden tyre burst. With no help in sight and the area poorly lit, the situation quickly became tense.
Concerned for his family’s safety, Doshi contacted his in-laws in Ahmedabad. However, since reaching the expressway from the city required going via Nadiad, their help would have taken too long. In the hope of quicker assistance, Darpanbhai and Vaishaliben turned to the official helpline numbers—9825026000 and 1033.
They first dialled the expressway helpline number, but the call went unanswered despite repeated attempts. When they tried the national emergency number 1033, an operator responded and took down their location, offering hope that assistance was on the way.
However, nearly two hours passed without any sign of help. With their child growing increasingly distressed, the couple made approximately fifty more calls to both helpline numbers, none of which led to any concrete response.
Eventually, at around 3 am, another passing vehicle stopped and helped the family temporarily change the tyre. However, due to low air pressure, the spare tyre soon got punctured as well, prolonging their ordeal until daybreak.