Indian Government Issues ‘Urgent Warning’ to Mobile Devices
If you received an emergency alert on your phone around 1:35 PM IST today, you’re not alone. According to PTI, the alert was sent by the National Disaster Management Authority as a test of the Pan-India Emergency Alert system.
During the test, several users reportedly received a flash message with a loud sound.
“This is a SAMPLE TESTING MESSAGE sent through Cell Broadcasting System by Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. Please ignore this message as no action is required from your end. This message has been sent to TEST Pan-India Emergency Alert System being… pic.twitter.com/R4F4pSUi3A— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 17, 2023
“This is a SAMPLE TEST MESSAGE sent by the Ministry of Telecommunications, Government of India via the Cell Broadcasting System. Please ignore this message as there is no need to take any action. This message has been sent to the TEST Pan-India Emergency Alert System implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority. It aims to improve public safety and provide timely alerts in emergency situations,” the test message reads.
The Ministry of Telecommunications has stated that these alerts will be sent and tested regularly to ensure that mobile operators and mobile infrastructure can handle emergency transmissions.
Also, this is said to be an attempt by the Indian government to prepare for calamities like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and other disasters.
As with social platforms including X (formerly Twitter), it has been observed that not all Indian citizens or operators are always receiving emergency broadcasts at the same time.
