India's Cell Broadcast Alert System Test Causes Nationwide Panic
Lakhs of Indians received an 'Extremely Severe Alert' around 11:45am Saturday in a nationwide test of the new Cell Broadcast Alert System, causing panic across cities. The drill, conducted by NDMA and Department of Telecommunications, caught many off-guard with fears of real emergencies amid tensions in West Asia. The indigenous SACHET platform overrides silent settings and requires no internet, targeting specific districts for disasters like earthquakes, cyclones and floods.