The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will conduct a nationwide test of the Disaster Alert System across India on May 2nd. During this exercise, sirens may sound simultaneously on millions of mobile phones across the country.

On May 2nd, a loud siren could ring out simultaneously on millions of mobile phones nationwide. The government is set to test a new mobile-based disaster alert system across the country. This Mobile Disaster Communication System—or Emergency Alert System—has been developed by the Department of Telecommunications in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Its primary objective is to alert people simultaneously in the event of an emergency.

This system has previously been tested in the Delhi-NCR region and several other metropolitan cities. The government has named this initiative SACHET (National Disaster Alert Portal). The government has already disseminated information regarding this exercise to the public via SMS. A message sent by the NDMA states that a 'Cell Broadcast Alert' test will be conducted in your area on May 2, 2026. Upon receiving this message on your mobile phone, no further action is required on your part. Please do not panic.

Therefore, if a siren sounds on your phone tomorrow—May 2nd—there is no need for you to panic. The government is testing this alert system to ensure that, should a disaster strike in the future, alerts can be effectively transmitted to the public using this mechanism. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are jointly conducting this trial. The system is designed to alert people during times of disaster, thereby ensuring public vigilance and helping to minimize loss of life and property.

How Does This System Work?

Developed jointly by the DoT and the NDMA, this alert system is based on the 'Common Alerting Protocol' (CAP). Recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), this system is currently active across all 36 states and Union Territories of the country. Under this system, users receive disaster-related warnings via SMS on their mobile phones. Additionally, a loud siren sounds on the phone to ensure that people are immediately alerted and made aware of the situation. However, this system has been developed in such a way that alerts are sent only to the mobile phones of people residing in the specific areas where a disaster is imminent. It utilizes Cell Broadcast Technology, which ensures that all mobile devices receive alerts simultaneously and in real-time.