The government's instant disaster alerting service sparked alarm on Saturday morning as a loud sound echoed through multiple mobile phones, confusing people as to what had happened.
A message starting with the words 'Extremely severe alert' flashed with the following text: '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.'
The Department of Telecommunications had urged people not to panic when the alerts were tested, saying it was part of the testing of the Emergency Alert System, so that accurate information can be received on time during disasters.
The development came days after the government said it would be testing a mobile-based disaster alert system and urged citizens to ignore it.
The trials and the alert system are based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) as recommended by the UN body International Telecommunication Union.
A similar nationwide test of an emergency alert system was carried out back in February.
