Explainer: What that emergency alert on your phone was all about
A nationwide test of emergency alerts triggered simultaneous messages across millions of mobile phones in the country on May 2, catching many users off guard. Rishi Raj explains how the system works, what it can and cannot do, and why it is being deployed more widely
l What happened during the alert?
MILLIONS OF USERS across the country received a sudden warning message accompanied by a loud tone and voice playback. The alerts were part of a test conducted through the emergency communication framework – Cell Broadcast Alert System — overseen by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), with delivery handled via telecom operators.
