NDMA has successfully operationalized the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications. The system is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), as recommended by the International Telecommunication Union. It is currently operational across all 36 States and Union Territories of India and delivers disaster and emergency related alerts via SMS to mobile users within geo-targeted areas.
The system has been extensively utilized by disaster management authorities, enabling the dissemination of over 134 billion SMS alerts, till date, in more than 19 Indian languages during natural disasters, weather warnings, and cyclonic events.
To further strengthen alert dissemination in time-critical situations, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes and man-made emergencies like gas leaks or chemical hazards, Cell Broadcast (CB) technology has been introduced alongside SMS. In a Cell Broadcast System, alerts are transmitted to all mobile devices within a defined geographic area simultaneously, ensuring near real-time delivery of the alerts. C-DOT has been entrusted with the indigenous development and implementation of this Cell Broadcast-based public emergency alert system.(PIB)
