Two-day Basic Trauma Life Support training and Sadak Suraksha Mitra training equip police personnel and community volunteers with skills to strengthen post-crash response and road safety under the Zero Fatality District Programme
Gorakhpur — In a significant step towards strengthening road safety and trauma care in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, SaveLIFE Foundation (SLF), with support from TATA AIG General Insurance Ltd. under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Healthcare theme, conducted training programmes for Uttar Pradesh police personnel and community volunteers from September 25 to 27, 2026, as part of the Zero Fatality District (ZFD) Programme.
Gorakhpur is among the 100 highest-burden districts in India in terms of road crash severity. These districts are receiving a targeted, holistic suite of interventions spanning the four Es of road safety, namely road engineering, traffic rules enforcement, driver education and awareness, and emergency care, under SLF’s ZFD Programme, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, state governments and district administrations.
The programme comprised a two-day Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) training on September 25 and 27, and a Sadak Suraksha Mitra (SSM) training on September 26. The sessions were held at White House, Police Line, Gorakhpur, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM each day.
The training was attended by Mr. Amit Kumar Srivastava, Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Gorakhpur, as Chief Guest.
The BTLS training focused on essential life-saving skills, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bleeding control, cervical spine (C-spine) immobilisation, and the critical importance of the ‘golden hour’ in trauma response, along with rapid recognition of medical emergencies, initial victim assessment, and scene safety management. The training also equipped participants to respond to high-risk incidents such as choking, while building a clear understanding of the Good Samaritan Law—which protects bystanders who assist road crash victims from legal and procedural hassles—its implementation protocols and relevant case studies.
The SSM training, meanwhile, is designed for volunteers engaged with the Sadak Suraksha Mitra Programme, a collaborative initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) that seeks to engage the youth as active participants in promoting safer roads across the country. The training programme equips participants with practical skills across key road safety functions, including managing crash sites and ensuring scene safety; facilitating green corridors for ambulances; identifying black spots and working with district administrations to implement remedial measures; and engaging communities to promote responsible road-user behaviour and drive positive behaviour change.
By building the capacity of police personnel and community volunteers to respond appropriately in the event of a road crash and facilitate timely assistance, the initiative seeks to strengthen the chain of survival for road crash victims and improve road safety outcomes at the district level.
“A road crash can become a life-threatening emergency within minutes, making timely and appropriate intervention critical. Building the capacity of our police personnel and community volunteers to respond effectively to trauma is an important step towards strengthening the chain of survival for crash victims. Such training programmes help ensure that those who are often among the first to reach a crash site have the knowledge and skills needed to respond appropriately and facilitate timely emergency care.”
— Amit Kumar Srivastava, Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Gorakhpur
“Multiple research studies indicate that timely medical intervention during the ‘golden hour’ following a road crash can significantly reduce avoidable fatalities. By training first responders, we aim to establish a structured and effective trauma response system. The BTLS and SSM trainings in Gorakhpur have strengthened the capabilities of police personnel and community volunteers who are critical to the response ecosystem. We are grateful to the Gorakhpur District Administration, the Uttar Pradesh Government, and TATA AIG for their partnership in advancing the Zero Fatality District Programme and strengthening road safety and emergency response on the ground.”
— Piyush Tewari, Founder & CEO, SaveLIFE Foundation
“At TATA AIG, we recognise that creating safer roads requires sustained efforts that go beyond awareness and extend to strengthening capabilities of all stakeholders. Supporting these trainings in Gorakhpur is an important part of our commitment to road safety and community resilience. By equipping police personnel and community volunteers with the right knowledge and skills, we hope to contribute to a more effective response to road crashes and safer communities in Uttar Pradesh focussed on Prayagraj and Gorakhpur districts.”
— Devang Pandya, Vice President & Lead – CSR & Sustainability, TATA AIG General Insurance
