Mobile users in Manipur on Saturday received an indigenous mobile emergency alert system across the state as part of a nationwide initiative to safeguard citizens during natural disasters.
The system, called ‘Cell Broadcast Alert’, is currently under pan-India testing in the form of flash SMS messages issued by the National Disaster Management Authority.
On Saturday, mobile users in the state received NDMA’s Cell Broadcast Alert test at around 12:20 pm. The alert was accompanied by a loud ringing sound, a sharp alarm tone, and a flashing message on mobile devices.
These alerts were delivered through the indigenous Integrated Alert System (SACHET), developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics. The system is based on the Common Alerting Protocol, which is recommended by the International Telecommunication Union.
The system is designed to deliver disaster and emergency-related alerts in situations such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and man-made emergencies like gas leaks or chemical hazards via SMS to mobile users in targeted areas.
Although the government has conducted similar tests in the past, the current exercise is aimed at assessing the system’s performance and reliability prior to its nationwide rollout.
Speaking to reporters, Documentation-cum-Research Officer of the Manipur State Disaster Management Authority, Ak. Ranjitkumar, said that such mobile alert systems will be tested at regular intervals to ensure that mobile users in Manipur become familiar with them.
The test alerts were issued by the NDMA, the apex body for disaster management in India, and were received on mobile phones with Cell Broadcast test channels enabled.
Following the nationwide testing phase, the system will be operationalised across the country to disseminate emergency alerts in multiple Indian languages across all mobile handsets.