India suspends new Cell Broadcast emergency alert system temporarily
India suspends new Cell Broadcast emergency alert system temporarily Published By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 09:42 IST The suspension has been implemented as a
India suspends new Cell Broadcast emergency alert system temporarily Published By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 09:42 IST The suspension has been implemented as a precautionary measure and will remain in effect until further notice, officials said. The suspension has been implemented as a precautionary measure and will remain in effect until further notice. (Source: X) The Cell Broadcast (CB) service, India’s newly launched emergency alert system, has been temporarily suspended following an advisory issued by the Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). According to the advisory, the suspension has been implemented as a precautionary measure and will remain in effect until further notice. As per a report by PTI, the officials said updates regarding the restoration of the service will be communicated in due course based on further directions from the NDMA. The development comes days after mobile phones across Delhi-NCR repeatedly buzzed with emergency weather warnings. Residents in Delhi, as well as Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, received multiple alerts from Thursday evening through the early hours of Friday, warning of severe thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Titled “Extremely Severe Alerts", one of the messages warned: “Severe Thunderstorm (wind speed 70-90 KMph gusting to 100 kmph or more) with Lightning and Moderate to intense spell of rain and Hail is very likely to occur at a few places over Agra, Aligarh, Baghpat, Bijnor, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Hathras, Mathura, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Shamli in next 3 hours." No Reason Specified Authorities have not specified the exact reason behind the suspension of the Cell Broadcast service, but indicated that technical or procedural reviews may be underway in coordination with relevant agencies. Officials said the suspension is expected to be temporary while authorities review the system’s functionality and operational protocols to ensure its effective and secure deployment in the future. What Is Cell Broadcast System? The CB service is a key public warning mechanism used to disseminate emergency alerts and disaster-related information directly to mobile users in affected areas. Unlike conventional SMS alerts, Cell Broadcast messages can be delivered simultaneously to millions of devices in a specific geographic region, even during periods of heavy network congestion.
It was launched nationwide in May by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia as a major upgrade to India’s disaster warning and emergency communication infrastructure. Describing the initiative as a transformative step in disaster management, Scindia had said the system reflects India’s shift from a reactive approach to a proactive model focused on protecting citizens through early warnings and rapid dissemination of information. “The launch of the Cell Broadcast System marks a transformative step in India’s disaster management framework, reflecting our shift from a reactive to a proactive approach in safeguarding citizens," Scindia had said at the launch event. According to the Ministry of Communications, the platform enables near real-time, geo-targeted alerts to reach millions of users instantly. The alerts appear as priority notifications on mobile screens and are accompanied by loud warning tones. On supported devices, the messages can also be read aloud to improve accessibility. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.
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