New Delhi: Mobile phone users across India received an emergency government alert on Saturday (May 2), as the Centre activated its new cell broadcast-based disaster warning system. The message was part of a nationwide test and users were advised not to panic.

The alert, marked as an “Extremely Severe Alert”, informed citizens that India has launched a new rapid disaster warning service built on indigenous technology. It clearly stated that no action was required from the public.

According to an official statement, the system was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on May 2. The platform is called SACHET, which stands for an Integrated Alert System.

SACHET has been developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the research and development organisation under the Department of Telecommunications. It is based on the Common Alerting Protocol recommended by the International Telecommunication Union. The system is currently operational across all states and Union Territories in India.

Authorities said the platform has already been used to send more than 134 billion SMS alerts in over 19 Indian languages during natural disasters, weather warnings, and cyclone-related events.

Officials explained that the new cell broadcast system is an upgrade over traditional SMS alerts. Unlike normal SMS messages, cell broadcast alerts are designed to immediately capture attention by triggering a loud alarm along with an on-screen message. The alert can also be received even if the mobile phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb mode.

The system is designed to deliver critical information during natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and lightning strikes, as well as man-made emergencies including gas leaks and chemical hazards.