Bhubaneswar: Many mobile phone users across Odisha today received 'Emergency Alert' message on their devices, which was sent by Department of Telecommunication, Government of India.

However, there is no need to panic as it was a sample testing message which required no action.

The message was sent to test Pan-India Emergency Alert System implemented by National Disaster Management Authority with an aim of enhancing public safety and providing timely alerts during emergencies.

Department of Telecommunication, in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority, has been conducting the Cell Broadcast Alert System testing to enhance emergency communication during disasters.

These tests will be performed from time to time in various regions across the country to gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency alert broadcasting capabilities of the systems in place.

The Cell Broadcast Alert System is a state-of-the-art technology that allows to send critical and time-sensitive messages for disaster management to all mobile devices within a designated geographical area, irrespective of whether the recipients are residents or visitors. This ensures that important emergency information reaches as many people as possible in a timely manner. It is used by government agencies and emergency services to inform the public about potential threats and keep them informed during critical situations. Cell Broadcast is commonly used to deliver emergency alerts, such as severe weather warnings (e.g., Tsunami, Flash Flood, Earthquake, etc.), public safety messages, evacuation notices and other critical information.

During the testing period, people may receive simulated emergency alerts on their mobile devices. Each test alert will be clearly labeled as a "SAMPLE TESTING MESSAGE" to avoid confusion.