Murugan Bhai,
"Sambar do not wait for visusal confirmation when alarmed by scent, but when not unduly alarmed may seek it........The alarm call,an explosive 'dhank !' is sounded when the animals are sure of their ground and gateaway, a forefoot being also stamped repeatedly."-M.Krishnan

In this photograph,in my view,it is alert, not alarmed.

Kind regards,
SaktiWild