What is the Emergency message that flashed today at 11:52 am on everybody's mobile phone?

On Monday, October 30, 2023, several smartphones in Assam received an unexpected pop-up message labeled "Emergency alert: Severe." While this might cause concern, it's crucial to stay calm as it was simply a test. The Centre conducted these tests of flash emergency messages to ensure the smooth functioning of the system during real emergencies. The message, primarily in Hindi but occasionally in English, stated:

"This is a SAMPLE TESTING MESSAGE sent through Cell Broadcasting System by the 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 implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority. It aims to enhance public safety and provide timely alerts during emergencies."

As clearly stated in the message, "No action is required from your end."

It's essential to note that this flash broadcast was specific to Android smartphones. iOS devices did not receive this notification, as confirmed by ABP Live.

This incident is not the first of its kind. A similar flash message appeared last month, and similar occurrences were reported by PTI in August this year. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and NDMA have been actively conducting tests on the 'Cell Broadcast Alert System' since July, as per a government release.

Some users might have received an SMS from the Department of Telecommunications, mentioning, "DoT, Govt of India would conduct Cell Broadcast testing with NDMA. You may receive test alerts on mobile with sound/vibration. These alerts are part of the testing process, do not indicate an actual emergency and do not require any action at your end."

This SMS was a deliberate test notification sent by the DoT to assess the functionality of its emergency alert system.

The cell broadcast alert system, clarified by the DoT, is a technology enabling the government to transmit critical and time-sensitive messages related to disaster management to all mobile devices within a specific geographic area, regardless of whether the recipients are residents or visitors.

Cell Broadcast is a widely used method for disseminating emergency alerts, covering severe weather warnings such as tsunamis, flash floods, earthquakes, and similar events.