On Saturday, several citizens received an “extremely severe alert” message on their phones as the central government tested a nationwide indigenous mobile emergency alert system.
The system, designed to ensure faster and more effective delivery of emergency alerts during natural calamities, was developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
“India, launches Cell Broadcast using indigenous technology, for instant disaster alerting service for its citizens. Alert citizens, safe nation. No action is required by the public upon receipt of this message. This is a test message. - Government of India,” read the message received by millions of citizens on Saturday morning.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, launched the system, which uses an Integrated Alert System, known as SACHET.
Unlike traditional messaging, the Cell Broadcast technology enables the simultaneous transmission of alerts to all mobile devices within a defined geographical area, ensuring near-instant delivery even during network congestion.
According to an official statement issued earlier this week, the system is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), as recommended by the UN body International Telecommunication Union. It is currently operational across all 36 states and union territories of India and delivers disaster and emergency-related alerts via SMS to mobile users within geo-targeted areas.
"As part of the pan-India rollout and the launch of the Cell Broadcast (CB) facility, nationwide testing and trials are currently being conducted to assess the system's performance and reliability prior to its formal inauguration and dedication to the nation. During this period, members of the public may receive test messages in English, Hindi, and regional languages on their mobile devices," the statement said.
DoT has appealed for the public’s cooperation during the testing phase and reiterated that all test messages during this period are purely for system validation purposes, and no action is required from the recipients.