New Delhi, 16 June—Much touted Cell Broadcast Alert System for issuing advance notice about an impending disaster, calamity or a danger recently launched by the Modi government recently has been put on hold after reports of a technical glitch that led to an emergency warning being sent to unintended recipients.
The government is making all efforts to cover up the lapse and is saying that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure while authorities assess the reliability of the nationwide public warning network. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is conducting a detailed review before deciding when the service can resume.
A news story in The Hindu reported that an alert originating from disaster management authorities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh was inadvertently routed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contact number. The incident is believed to have prompted the suspension, though officials have not publicly confirmed the exact reason behind the move.
The serious lapse is a telling revelation as how the Modi government functions. Invariably, the ruling dispensation is in a frenzied hurry to start without testing enough on ground, an official said.
An advisory issued by the NDMA on June 12 placed the system on hold pending a technical assessment.
The Cell Broadcast System is designed to send urgent public safety and disaster-related warnings directly to mobile phones. The alerts are accompanied by a distinctive hooting sound and are intended to reach users even when devices are set to silent mode.
Sources cited in the report said an alert issued by disaster management units in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh caused phones to ring around midnight, raising concerns about message routing and system controls.
Officials are now examining the incident to identify the cause of the reported malfunction and determine whether additional safeguards are required before the platform becomes operational again.
The suspension is understood to be temporary. Further decisions will depend on the findings of the review and subsequent directions issued by the NDMA.
The government launched the Cell Broadcast Alert System in May this year to ensure critical warnings reach citizens quickly during disasters and public emergencies. The platform was developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics under the Department of Telecommunications in collaboration with the NDMA and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The government has described the system as a tool for delivering real-time emergency information directly to citizens during disasters, severe weather conditions and other public safety situations.
Before its launch, authorities conducted a nationwide test in which mobile users across the country received emergency alert messages accompanied by an alert tone on their devices.
Officials have said the platform is intended to strengthen the dissemination of critical information during emergencies by enabling rapid communication with the public.
Veteran Journalist and Political Commentator
