By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: People across Assam may soon receive disaster warnings directly on their mobile phones through a new emergency alert platform being introduced by the state government.
The initiative involves the deployment of the Cell Broadcast System (CBS), which is expected to help authorities quickly communicate urgent safety information during natural calamities and other emergencies.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said the rollout process is now being taken forward across the state.
Created by the Department of Telecommunications with support from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the technology is capable of delivering location-based warning messages to every mobile device within a defined area.
The platform was previously tested in Assam under a nationwide pilot exercise conducted in May. With the trial phase now over, officials are preparing for its wider use as part of the state’s disaster warning network.
The service enables emergency notifications to reach everyone present in an affected location, regardless of whether they live there or are only passing through.
Alerts can be issued for a range of situations, including cyclones, floods, flash floods, thunderstorms, lightning strikes, heavy rainfall and other weather-related threats.
When activated, the warning appears immediately on mobile screens as a high-priority pop-up notification accompanied by a loud tone and vibration.
Unlike standard text messages, these alerts are delivered simultaneously to all devices in the selected area and can continue to function even when communication networks are under heavy pressure.
Officials said the system is compatible with 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G services and can deliver messages in multiple languages.
The platform is expected to improve outreach to people who may be most at risk during emergencies, particularly elderly citizens and residents of remote locations where access to timely information can be limited.
The move is aimed at ensuring that life-saving information reaches people without delay, particularly when weather events or other emergencies develop rapidly.