Srinagar, May 2 -- Mobile phone users across Jammu and Kashmir were taken by surprise on Saturday morning after their devices emitted loud alert tones accompanied by a flash message, as part of a nationwide test of India's emergency alert system.

The alert, received around 11:42 am, was issued under a trial run of the government's Cell Broadcast-based emergency warning mechanism aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness. Officials said the exercise was conducted to ensure that critical information can be disseminated swiftly to citizens during emergencies.

The message, marked as an "Extremely Severe Alert," clarified that it was only a test and required no action from the public. "India launches Cell Broadcast using indigenous techno...