Mumbai Police marked Friendship Day on Sunday, August 2, 2026, describing itself as ‘that one friend who’s just a call away’ in a social media post that shared four important emergency helpline numbers.
The message read, ‘That one friend who’s just a call away. Always there for you. Always ready to help,’ and appeared in both English and Marathi, accompanied by friendship-themed graphics.
The helplines highlighted were 112, the all-in-one national emergency response number; 1930, for reporting cybercrime and financial fraud; 103, the women’s safety helpline; and 1915, the senior citizens’ helpline.
Friendship Day, marked on the first Sunday of August, celebrates the bond of friendship, and Mumbai Police used the occasion to position its emergency services as a reliable ‘friend’ available during a crisis.
The department regularly ties civic awareness messaging to festive occasions on social media, a strategy that has often resonated widely with users.
The post received a warm response online, with several users praising the department for its creative reminder of essential helpline numbers.
The 1930 cybercrime helpline connects callers directly to India’s National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal network, allowing victims of financial fraud to report incidents and potentially freeze fraudulent transactions quickly.
The 112 number consolidates India’s earlier separate emergency lines for police, fire and ambulance services into a single all-in-one helpline, part of a nationwide Emergency Response Support System.
Social media users responded to the post with messages of appreciation, with several praising the department’s creative approach to reminding citizens of essential safety resources on a lighthearted occasion.
Friendship Day traces its origins to a 1958 proposal in Paraguay, and while it is not a public holiday in India, it is widely observed through gift exchanges, gatherings and social media messages among friends.
Mumbai Police’s official social media handles have built a large following over the years, partly due to their consistent use of humour, pop culture references and timely public safety reminders.
Photo by Nichalp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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