The way information is disseminated to people during disasters in the country is about to change completely. On May 2, 2026, the central government will launch a mobile-based alert system that will instantly deliver information about hazards such as earthquakes, cyclones, or lightning strikes directly to your phone. Significantly, this system will send alerts simultaneously to all mobile users in a given area. This will alert people in a timely manner and help minimize damage.
This new system has been developed in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority and the Department of Telecommunications. It utilizes the ‘SACHET’ platform developed by C-DOT.
This system is based on a common alerting protocol, allowing different agencies to issue alerts from a single platform. This will reduce information delays and ensure more accurate messages reach the public.
No more SMS, real-time messages will be delivered through Cell Broadcast.
Until now, disaster-related information was mostly sent via SMS, but the new system incorporates Cell Broadcast technology.
This technology allows alerts to be delivered simultaneously to all mobile phones in a specific area. This means that even if the network is busy, messages will not be delayed, and alerts will be received in near-real time.
The basic version of this system is already in use, and over 134 billion alerts have been sent in over 19 languages.
These alerts have been used during weather warnings, cyclones, and other natural disasters. With the addition of the new technology, its capabilities will be further strengthened.
A nationwide test will be conducted along with the launch.
On the day of the launch, test messages will be sent to all state capitals, Delhi and the National Capital Region.
These messages will be in Hindi, English, and regional languages. The government has clarified that this is only a test, so there is no need for people to panic or take any action.
A major change in disaster management
The new system aims to provide timely alerts to people. Even a few seconds of warning can save lives in situations like earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes, or chemical accidents.
This initiative will further strengthen India’s disaster management system and could help mitigate the impact of major disasters in the future.