Growing up, the Emergency Broadcast System was a kind of sonic boogeyman. Its signature harsh tone would cut through your favorite TV show or song on the radio, announcing that “THIS IS ONLY A TEST”.

NDMA will conduct a nationwide Cell Broadcast Alert System test on May 2, with citizens in major cities likely to receive emergency test notifications on their phones.

Currently, the government already issues disaster alerts through SMS. But unlike SMS alerts, which may be missed by many, the cell broadcast technology used on Saturday is unmissable.

NEW DELHI: India on Friday tested its first indigenously made emergency alert system on mobile phones, triggering a sharp beeping sound, vibrations, and a warning message for a few seconds across ...