India, May 2 -- Did your phone go off with a loud beep after an emergency alert today? The government's instant disaster alerting service sparked alarm on Saturday morning as a loud sound echoed through multiple mobile phones, confusing people as to what had happened.

As they checked their phones a message starting with the words 'Extremely severe alert' flashed with the following text: "India, launches Cell Broadcast using indigenous technology, for instant disaster alerting service for its citizens. Alert citizens, safe nation. No action is required by the public upon receipt of this message. This is a test message. - Government of India."

A day before the alerts were tested, the Department of Telecommunications urged people not to pa...