DoT’s test alarm for emergency alert takes Kolkatans by surprise

KOLKATA: A shrill alarm that went off on several cellphones thrice in a span of 45 minutes on Thursday morning left nearly everyone startled and sent some into panic mode. The alarm was testing of a severe emergency alert sent by the department of telecommunications (DoT) through the cell broadcasting system.

Ballygunge resident A Basu was sipping coffee after breakfast when the alarm triggered around 11.35am, startling her. “The spooky alarm nearly caused me to spill the coffee. The phone vibrated and a message flashed on the screen,” she recounted.