India has begun large-scale testing of its mobile-based disaster alert system, designed to send real-time warnings during emergencies, with officials stressing the alerts are only part of a trial.
A test emergency alert titled “Extremely severe alert” appears on a mobile phone screen as part of the government’s nationwide disaster warning system trial.
A loud, high-priority alert flashing “Extremely Severe Alerts” startled mobile users across India on Saturday, but the government has clarified that the message was part of a nationwide test and not a real emergency.
The alert, which appeared prominently on phone screens with a sharp alarm tone, is part of a larger exercise to prepare a robust, real-time disaster warning system for the country. Officials say the system is designed to ensure timely communication during natural and man-made emergencies.
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The notification received by users read: “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.”
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The message was also displayed in Hindi and other reginal languages, reinforcing that the system will eventually support multiple Indian languages for wider reach.
Earlier, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had cautioned users not to panic. In a post on X, it said, “If you receive an Alert Message on your phone, do not panic… During testing, this message may appear repeatedly. Ignore it; you do not need to do anything.”
Unlike regular SMS alerts, this test used a cell broadcast mechanism, which pushes notifications directly to all devices in a specific area. This is why phones emitted a loud alarm and displayed a full-screen warning that could not be missed.
The alerts were sent by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as part of ongoing trials of the country’s emergency communication system.
The system being tested is based on the Cell Broadcast Alert framework and is powered by the indigenous Integrated Alert System, SACHET, developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
It follows the Common Alerting Protocol, a global standard recommended by the International Telecommunication Union, ensuring compatibility and reliability.
Once fully rolled out, the system will be used to send alerts for events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes and even hazards like gas leaks or chemical emergencies.
Officials have said no action is required when such test messages are received. These alerts are being sent only to evaluate system performance and reliability before a nationwide rollout.
The messages are typically received on devices where cell broadcast test channels are enabled. Users can manage these settings through their phone’s safety and emergency alert options.
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