The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on June 4 announced plans to implement the Cell Broadcast System (CBS) across the state to provide real-time emergency alerts to citizens during disasters.
According to ASDMA, the technology has been developed by the Centre’s Department of Telecommunications in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The system enables authorities to send geo-targeted emergency messages instantly to all mobile phones within a specific geographical area.
Officials said the CBS has already been introduced in Assam as part of a nationwide pilot project launched in May and has shown effectiveness during disaster situations in several states. With the testing phase now concluded, the state government has initiated steps to roll out the system across Assam through ASDMA.
The Cell Broadcast System is designed to deliver critical and time-sensitive warnings related to disasters directly to mobile devices in affected zones, regardless of whether the users are residents or visitors. Alerts can include warnings for storms, heavy rainfall, lightning, cyclones, floods, flash floods and other hazards.
Unlike conventional SMS messages, CBS alerts appear as pop-up notifications accompanied by a loud alert tone and vibration, ensuring immediate attention. The system is capable of functioning even during network congestion, as messages are broadcast simultaneously to all devices in a targeted area.
ASDMA stated that the system supports multiple languages and operates across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks, making it widely accessible across urban and rural regions.
Officials added that the initiative will be particularly useful for vulnerable groups, including elderly citizens and residents of remote areas, by enabling faster dissemination of life-saving information during emergencies.
The rollout is expected to significantly enhance Assam’s disaster preparedness and early warning capabilities, strengthening the state’s response mechanism in times of crisis.
