If your phone blasts a siren on May 2, don't panic! Its the NDMA testing a disaster alert system

State-run National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has announced that it will be testing a new alert notification system on May 2 in Bengaluru and other cities across India.

For the past couple of days, NDMA, in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Telematics (CDOT), has been sending SMS to citizens in Bengaluru. They have been advised not to panic when they receive the Cell Broadcast Alerts on their phone.

This is not the first time, as NDMA had conducted a similar 'emergency alert' simulation in Bengaluru in 2023.

As this is a test warning alert, citizens are advised not to react to it and, most importantly, don't panic when the phone receives the message from NDMA with a blaring beeping sound.

It is just that NDMA wants to gauge the effectiveness of the system and improve the disaster preparedness measures by the state.

"DoT, in collaboration with NDMA and CDOT, is strengthening India’s mobile-based disaster alert systems. As a part of the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), to enhance real-time alerts during emergencies, Cell Broadcast (CB) technology is being rolled out nationwide," said the Greater Bengaluru Authority on X.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of heavy rains in Bengaluru, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, including two children, in the Shivajinagar area.

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