NewKerala.com

Government Tests Nationwide Mobile Emergency Alert System for Citizen Safety

The Indian government tested the 'Cell Broadcast Alert' system nationwide to safeguard citizens during disasters. The alerts, sent by NDMA, appeared as a loud alarm with a flashing message on mobile phones. The system uses the indigenous SACHET platform developed by C-DOT and follows the Common Alerting Protocol. After successful testing, it will be rolled out in multiple Indian languages to warn of tsunamis, earthquakes, and chemical hazards.

Key Points: India Tests Mobile Emergency Alert System

  • System called 'Cell Broadcast Alert' tested pan-India by NDMA
  • Uses indigenous Integrated Alert System (SACHET) developed by C-DOT
  • Alerts cover natural disasters and man-made emergencies like gas leaks
  • Test assessed performance before nationwide rollout in multiple languages
2 min read

Govt tests nationwide mobile emergency alert system to safeguard citizens

Govt tests indigenous 'Cell Broadcast Alert' system nationwide to warn citizens of disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, and gas leaks via SMS.

"On receiving the message on your mobile phone, no action is required. Please do not panic. - NDMA"

New Delhi, May 2

The government on Saturday tested indigenous mobile emergency alert system nationwide to safeguard its citizens when nature strikes.

The system, called 'Cell Broadcast Alert', is currently under pan-India testing, in the form of a flash SMS message from the NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority).

"NDMA will test Cell Broadcast Alerts on 2 May 2026 in your area. On receiving the message on your mobile phone, no action is required. Please do not panic," the notification read.

When the emergency alert arrived on Saturday, it made the phone ring rather loudly with a sharp alarm tone and a flashing message.

The alerts were delivered by the indigenous Integrated Alert System (SACHET), which is developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).

The system is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), which is recommended by the International Telecommunication Union.

The system aims to deliver disaster and emergency-related alerts in situations such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and man-made emergencies like gas leaks or chemical hazards via SMS to mobile users within the targeted areas.

While the government has tested the system a few times in the past, these alerts are currently being conducted to assess the system's performance and reliability prior to nationwide rollout of this system.

The test alerts were sent by NDMA, which is the apex body for disaster management in India. The test messages were received on mobile phones that have their Cell Broadcast test channels enabled.

You can enable or disable alerts by navigating to Settings Safety and emergency Wireless emergency alerts Test alerts.

After the nationwide testing, the mobile alert system will be operationalised across the country and will disseminate emergency alerts in multiple Indian languages across all mobile handsets.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
I appreciate the intent, but the timing could be better. The alert went off during my online class and scared everyone. Also, what about feature phone users or those in rural areas without smartphones? We need to ensure this reaches everyone, not just urban users with the latest handsets. Just a thought. 😅
R
Rajesh Q
Thank God they are testing this. Last year during the Kerala floods, many people didn't get timely warnings. If this system works in multiple Indian languages as promised, it will be a game-changer for disaster management. I just hope the government keeps the test channels enabled permanently and doesn't use it for spam or political messages. Trust is key here. 🙏
J
James A
Interesting move. I work in disaster response, and I can tell you that such systems are already standard in countries like Japan and the US. India has needed this for a long time. The loud alarm is crucial—during a real emergency, you can't rely on a silent notification. Good job on the CAP compliance with ITU standards too. Let's hope the rollout is smooth across all telecom operators. ⚡
P
Priya S
Received the alert while driving. Nearly had a heart attack! But in all seriousness, this is a brilliant initiative. The fact that it's based on CAP and supported by C-DOT makes it self-reliant too. My only concern: will the system work during network congestion? During disasters, mobile towers often get jammed. Hope they have a backup plan. Otherwise, well done, NDMA! 👏
R
Riya H

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50