JAMMU, September 6: In a significant development, residents of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are soon to receive innovative safety messaging equipped with warning sounds and auto-readout alerts to keep them informed about emergency situations, as announced by an official.
This initiative is a direct outcome of the successful implementation of a Cell Broadcast Alert System (CBAS) conducted recently by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). According to Additional Director General (ADG) Telecom for Jammu & Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Surendra, “The tests have been conducted, resulting in a unique alert system that distinguishes itself from regular SMS tones. It features a distinct and high-pitched audio alert.”
These high-pitched audio alerts have been carefully designed to swiftly capture people’s attention, enabling rapid responses to various emergency situations such as earthquakes, flash floods, terrorist attacks, epidemics, and law and order issues, Surendra stated. He emphasized that these features aim to deliver warnings promptly to prevent loss of life and property.
“The technical capabilities have been enhanced to ensure that disaster management messages are delivered immediately to all mobile users simultaneously, minimizing warning time,” Surendra added.
The License Service Area (LSA) in Jammu and Kashmir serves as the testing ground for this extensive cell broadcasting initiative. It assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency alert broadcasting across various mobile operators and cell broadcast systems. According to Surendra, this messaging system has the specialty of identifying specific areas and delivering alerts to all mobile users within that area.
The CBAS represents cutting-edge technology that facilitates the dissemination of critical and time-sensitive disaster management information to all mobile devices within a designated geographical area, irrespective of whether the recipients are residents or visitors. This approach ensures that essential emergency information reaches as many people as possible quickly, making it invaluable for government agencies and emergency services, as highlighted by DoT officials.
Arun Aggrawal, a senior DoT officer, underscored the need for innovative solutions to address India’s vulnerability to floods, emphasizing that cell broadcasting has the potential to save lives and mitigate the impact of disasters.
Officials clarified that the messaging system is currently in the testing phase and is not operational anywhere in India. The testing of the service was first conducted in the Jammu and Kashmir circle by BSNL, the primary service provider in the region. BSNL has also confirmed that mobile users will not be charged for this service, as it is entirely managed by the disaster management setup and service providers.
A.K. Tripathi, a DoT official, indicated that the service is likely to be officially launched by the Prime Minister after completing trials and testing throughout the country.
