Bengaluru, May 02: Don’t panic if your mobile phone doesn’t beep loudly or if you get an unexpected alert message today (Saturday).
Emergency alert message. The government is testing a new emergency alert system, due to which an alert message and siren will be blaring on mobiles.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is testing a new disaster alert system across the country on May 2. Therefore, an alert message with a loud siren sound may appear on your mobile today.
India is building its own alert system to protect its citizens in case of natural disasters. This system, called Cell Broadcast Alert, is currently being tested across the country.
The National Disaster Management Authority is preparing to launch a cell broadcast service that will broadcast messages directly to citizens’ mobile phones in emergency situations. As part of that, today (May 2), Bengaluru citizens may receive a Flash SMS message from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on their mobile phones. So, no one should panic.
The government wants to provide timely information in case of natural calamities and emergencies, and there is no better option than direct alerts on mobile phones. Therefore, as part of its preparedness to deal with emergencies, the government has developed a local cell broadcast system. This system is currently being tested across the country.
The government has tested this system a few times in the past. However, before implementing it nationwide, it is conducting another test to assess the performance and reliability of the system.