Bhubaneswar: If your phone blared with an "Extremely Severe Alert" today, you weren't alone and there was no cause for alarm.
Millions of mobile users across India received the test message as the government formally rolled out its indigenous Cell Broadcast emergency alert system.
Launched on May 2 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the initiative is powered by SACHET, the Integrated Alert System developed by C-DOT, the Department of Telecommunications' premier R&D centre.
Built on the International Telecommunication Union's Common Alerting Protocol, the platform is now operational across all 36 states and union territories.
Unlike traditional SMS warnings, Cell Broadcast alerts override phone settings, sounding a sharp alarm and flashing a prominent on-screen message, even on silent mode. Authorities say the system will deliver instant alerts during earthquakes, cyclones, lightning strikes, gas leaks, and other emergencies.
So far, disaster management agencies have already sent over 134 billion alerts in 19 languages. With Cell Broadcast, India aims to ensure no citizen misses a life-saving warning again.