The “Extremely Severe Alert” message recently appearing on mobile phones in India is a test of the Cell Broadcast Alert System conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
No action is required, and users should not panic.
Key Details regarding the Test Alerts:
Purpose: To test the system for sending instant, location-based emergency alerts for natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, and cyclones.
What to do: Ignore the message. It is part of a nationwide testing, not an active emergency.
Appearance: The alert may flash on screens, accompanied by a loud beep or vibration.
Frequency: The test message might be received multiple times.
Origin: The messages are sent by the NDMA in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications.
Disclaimer: While this specific alert is a test, always treat official, non-test alerts seriously and follow the instructions given by local authorities.