New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS): Delhi Police Saturday refuted allegations levelled by the friend of the Dec 16 gang-rape victim that policemen argued over jurisdictional area, losing precious time that might have proven crucial in saving her.

In a short explanation, Delhi Police said that the Police Control Room van got the first call at 10:22 pm that night, of two people including a woman lying on the road in a pool of blood.

Police claimed that two rescue vans reached the spot within minutes and took the victims to hospital 33 minutes after receiving the first distress call.

"The PCR call was received at 10:22:20. Call broadcast to PCR vans and Van Z-54 was directed to spot," a statement from Delhi Police said.

"Meanwhile PCR van E-42 reached the spot on its own at 10:26 -- in four minutes. Van Z-54 reached spot at 10:28 i.e. within 5.5 minutes of the call. It left the spot with victims at 10:31 i.e. within three minutes. It reached Safdarjang Hospital within 24 minutes at 10:55. All records as per GPS (Global Positioning System)," said the statement.

Breaking his silence for the first time since the horrific Dec 16 gang-rape, the victim's friend Friday said he wished he could have saved the 23-year-old woman. He also blamed police for delaying taking them to hospital for over two hours as three PCR vans fought over jurisdiction.