Uttarakhand to Test Earthquake Sirens on 9th Every Month | Uttarakhand News Network

Dehradun: Uttarakhand will sound its earthquake early warning sirens at 11 am on the 9th of every month as part of a regular testing exercise aimed at strengthening public awareness and ensuring the reliability of the state’s earthquake early warning system. The monthly siren will not indicate an actual earthquake. Instead, it will be used to test the functioning of earthquake warning sensors and sirens installed across the state and familiarise residents with the warning signal they may hear during a real seismic event. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has directed the Disaster Management Department to implement the monthly testing mechanism. During a meeting with Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, Bardhan reviewed the strategy for ensuring the effective operation of the system. Uttarakhand Highly Vulnerable to Earthquakes Bardhan noted that Uttarakhand is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, with large parts of the state falling under Seismic Zones IV and V. He stressed that public awareness, preparedness and timely warnings are critical in reducing the impact of earthquakes. Regular testing of the early warning system, he said, is necessary to ensure that the sensors and sirens remain fully operational and can deliver alerts when required. The Disaster Management Department has also been instructed to install additional sirens and sensors wherever necessary. Regular testing will help identify technical faults in advance and ensure that warning systems are operational during an actual emergency. Sirens to Be Tested Every Month Under the new arrangement, sirens across the state will be activated at 11 am on the 9th of every month. Authorities will check whether the installed sirens are functioning properly. Any technical problems detected during the exercise will be addressed promptly. Officials said the regular testing will also help authorities identify technical shortcomings before an actual disaster, improving the reliability of the warning network. 169 Sensors and 112 Sirens Currently Installed According to Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, Uttarakhand currently has 169 earthquake sensors and 112 warning sirens installed under the state’s earthquake early warning system. The sensors monitor seismic activity and facilitate the transmission of warnings through the designated system. A proposal is also underway to install additional sensors under the earthquake early warning system project being implemented with the support of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) and IIT Roorkee. Officials said the expansion of the sensor network will strengthen the state’s ability to monitor seismic activity and improve the accuracy and effectiveness of earthquake warnings. Early Warning System Activated During October 6 Earthquake The importance of the system was highlighted during an earthquake that struck near Tharali in Chamoli district at around 10:23 pm on October 6, 2026. According to the Disaster Management Department, the earthquake measured 4.9 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre located at a depth of approximately 13 kilometres. Officials said the earthquake early warning system operated with the support of IIT Roorkee and issued an alert before the seismic waves reached the general population. Warnings were delivered through the Bhudev mobile app as well as the installed sirens. Suman said the incident demonstrated the practical value of an earthquake early warning system. Even a few seconds of advance warning during a sudden disaster can give people crucial time to move to safer locations, switch off gas and electrical appliances and take other necessary precautions. Monthly Siren Test to Familiarise Residents With Warning Sound Authorities said one of the key objectives of the monthly exercise is to ensure that residents recognise the earthquake warning siren. Many people may not know what an earthquake warning sounds like. Regular monthly testing will allow residents to become familiar with the siren, reducing the possibility of confusion or unnecessary panic during an actual earthquake. Officials emphasised that the initiative is intended to make people aware, alert and prepared—not to create fear. Regular testing will also help residents understand how the earthquake early warning system operates and what action they should take when an actual warning is issued. Bhudev App Users Will Also Receive Test Alerts Along with the physical sirens, users of the Bhudev mobile app will receive a test warning on their phones at 11 am on the 9th of every month. The mobile alert will include vibration and a beep-beep warning sound. Authorities have advised residents to keep the Bhudev app updated and ensure that the app has location access enabled at all times. This will allow earthquake warnings relevant to a user’s location to reach their mobile device as quickly as possible. USDMA Issues Appeal to Residents The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority has appealed to residents not to panic when the sirens sound at 11 am on the 9th of each month. The sirens during the scheduled exercise will be part of the regular testing and public awareness programme and will not indicate an actual earthquake. Residents have been advised to: Keep the updated versions of the Bhudev and Sachet mobile apps installed on their phones. Allow both apps to access the phone’s location at all times. Pay attention to the sound of the earthquake warning siren and become familiar with it. Remain calm during the monthly siren test and understand that it is a scheduled system exercise. Inform family members, children, elderly people and neighbours about the monthly testing programme. Learn about earthquake-safe behaviour and disaster preparedness. Participate actively in mock drills whenever they are organised. The authorities said the monthly siren exercise is intended to build a culture of preparedness across Uttarakhand and ensure that both the public and the warning infrastructure are ready to respond when a real earthquake occurs.