The government conducted nationwide testing of an indigenous mobile emergency alert system to protect citizens during natural disasters. The system, known as ‘Cell Broadcast Alert,’ is currently undergoing pan-India testing through flash SMS messages from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). When the emergency alert was sent, it triggered loud ringing, a sharp alarm tone, and a flashing message on mobile phones.
The alerts were transmitted using the indigenous Integrated Alert System (SACHET) developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT). This system is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) recommended by the International Telecommunication Union. It is designed to provide disaster and emergency alerts for events like tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and man-made emergencies such as gas leaks or chemical hazards via SMS to mobile users in targeted areas.
The ongoing testing of the alert system is aimed at evaluating its performance and reliability before a nationwide rollout. These test alerts, sent by NDMA, the apex body for disaster management in India, were received by mobile phones with enabled Cell Broadcast test channels. Following the nationwide testing phase, the mobile alert system will be operationalized nationwide, delivering emergency alerts in various Indian languages to all mobile devices.
