For dissemination of early warning and other emergency alert messages for disaster preparedness, a pilot testing of a new system called Common Alert Protocol (CAP) developed by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was done in the state on Friday.
A government spokesperson said that the test messages about rainfall forecast were developed and sent to selected areas of three districts, Sirmaur (Nahan), Kangra (Dharamshala) and Kinnaur (Reckong Peo).
An earthquake preparedness message of Drop, Cover and Hold exercise was also disseminated in Chhotta Shimla area (State Secretariat) through the CAP platform, he added.
The CAP has been developed by the NDMA and Department of Telecommunications for target based early warning and alert system, he4 said, adding that the pilot testing was successfully done from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) located at Himachal Secretariat, Shimla.
The alerts were received on more than 58,000 Reliance, JIO and BSNL subscribers in the areas of three districts and Shimla Secretariat during the pilot testing, he informed.