Written By Deepti Ratnam
Published By: Deepti Ratnam | Published: Nov 11, 2025, 09:39 AM (IST)
The explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station took 9 lives and injured several people yesterday. The incident created panic among commuters when a Hyundai i20 ignited while waiting at a traffic signal near Gate No. 1. The incident is a stark reminder that a tragedy can strike anywhere and anytime and how crucial it becomes for people to receive timely alerts on their smartphones to stay safe in public spaces. Such events make us realize that it is extremely crucial to stay informed in real-time to protect ourselves and others too.
Our modern smartphones are embedded with built-in emergency alert systems that allow us to receive immediate warnings about disasters and public safety threats. If a user activates this alert on his or her smartphone, then they will start getting alerts and life-saving information, allowing you to have enough time to react and move to safety.
In this article, we will delve into how to enable emergency alerts on your Android and iOS smartphones.
For Android users and their devices with version 11 or later, emergency notifications are easy to activate. Follow this step-by-step guide
STEP 1: The first step in enabling your emergency alert is to open your Settings app.
STEP 2: Now, you have to scroll down and select the option Safety and Emergency.
STEP 3: Here you will see the Wireless Emergency Alerts option. Tap on it
STEP 4: Turn on all available alert options.
Nevertheless, the options involved in this step-by-step guide can be different based on the phone’s brand, including Samsung (One UI), Xiaomi (Hyper OS), and OnePlus devices. But the functionality will remain the same.
iPhone users can also ensure they receive official alerts during critical situations:
STEP 1: The first step is to open the Settings app.
STEP 2: Now, tap on the Notifications option.
STEP 3: Next, scroll down to Government Alerts.
STEP4: The last step is to enable the toggle for Test Alerts.
These alerts are especially designed to notify users about emergencies or national threats. The alert messages ensure that the system works properly and help prepare you in emergencies.
It is very important for users to enable these settings as yesterday’s Red Fort bomb blast reminds us of how vulnerable we are in current scenarios and sudden threats can arise anytime in public spaces. By turning these emergency notifications on your smartphone, you will be able to receive updates, allowing you to avoid dangerous areas.