If you have recently received alerts on your mobile phone with loud sounds and pop-ups of "Extremely Severe Alerts", do not panic as India has launched its own alert system to warn and safeguard its citizens. This was just a part of a drill that today, May 2, 2026, was received by citizens.
On Saturday, May 2, at around 11.40 am, lakhs of citizens across the country, including in Mumbai, received a loud emergency alerts on their mobile phones accompanied by a siren and vibration. The sudden notification initially caused panic among many users.
The Cell Broadcast Alert System was tested jointly by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, and the National Disaster Management Authority. The system has been designed to send immediate alerts to citizens during natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and cyclones, as well as man-made emergencies, ‘Extremely Severe Alerts’.
"Extremely Severe Alerts. India, launches Cell Broadcast using indigenous technology, for instant disaster alerting service for its citizens. Alert citizens, safe nation. No action is required by the public upon receipt of this message. This is a test message.-Government of India," message reads like this and received in different languages irrespective of state or region.
Also Read | Extremely Severe Alerts: No Need to Panic as Govt Tests Emergency Cell Broadcast System Across India.
The system has been developed in India by the Centre for Development of Telematics. Unlike regular SMS messages, the Cell Broadcast system can send alerts simultaneously to all mobile phones in a specific area, even if phone networks are congested during emergencies. The project is part of the SACHAT Alert Platform.
The government clarified that the notification was only a test message and that no action was required from the public. The alerts are being sent in English, Hindi and regional languages to test the reliability and reach of the system.
“India has started cell broadcast using indigenous technology for its citizens for immediate disaster alert service. Alert citizens, keep the nation safe. No action is required from the public after receiving this message. This is a test message – Government of India.”
Why Did Some Users Receive the Alert More Than Once?
Several users say they receive the alert multiple times because the government is testing the capacity and performance of different mobile towers and telecom networks. They added that this is normal during the testing phase.
Launched with the slogan ‘Extremely Severe Alerts’, the service is expected to play an important role in saving lives during major disasters in the future. Once testing is completed, the system will function automatically during emergencies.
Only users who have enabled Cell Broadcast Test Alerts on their phones are expected to receive these messages. The feature can usually be enabled through: Settings > Safety and Emergency > Wireless Emergency Alerts > Test Alerts.