PIB rejects claims of temperature soaring to 55 degrees Celsius between May 29-June 2

IANS May 21, 2025 307 views

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has officially debunked a viral social media post claiming extreme temperatures of 55 degrees Celsius between May 29 and June 2. The false notification, purportedly from the Directorate General of Civil Defence, included warnings about staying indoors and potential mobile explosions. India's Meteorological Department confirms only a low to moderate probability of heatwave conditions in isolated areas. Authorities strongly advise citizens to rely only on official government sources for accurate weather information.

"Check the official website of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for verified information" - PIB Fact Check
New Delhi, May 21: The Government has dismissed viral claims, circulating on social media, that the week starting from May end to June first week (May 29 - June 2), will see an intense heatwave and the temperature may soar up to 55 degrees Celsius.

Key Points

1

PIB dismisses viral heatwave warning as completely false

2

IMD forecasts above normal temperatures without extreme heat

3

False post claims dangerous temperatures between May 29-June 2

4

Warns people to verify official government sources

Press Information Bureau (PIB), the information wing of the government, on Wednesday debunked the viral post, which was claimed to have been shared by the Central government.

It said that the Centre has issued no such directive or notification, and advised people to check the official website of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for verified information.

The false post in circulation claims that everyone should avoid coming out of their houses during daytime between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., from May 29 to June 2, to save oneself from heatstroke. It also warns of possible mobile explosions due to intense heat.

"Everyone should increase their water intake and consume more liquid food like curd and chaach," says the unsigned fake notification, issued in the name of the Directorate General of Civil Defence.

It also asks people to be on alert and stay cautious of snakes and other such creatures, as they may come out of their holes due to the searing heat and sneak into homes.

Besides PIB's fact-check, the IMD's outlook for the current month also shows no exigency.

In its May 2025 weather outlook, the Met Department says that above normal temperatures are likely across most parts of the country and above normal heatwave days are likely across North-West and Central India.

However, none of its outlook mentions a scorching heatwave, where temperatures could breach 50 degrees Celsius.

"There is a low to moderate probability of heatwave conditions over isolated pockets of plains of North-west India during some days of the week, from May 23 to May 29," one of its circulars said.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Thank God it's fake news! Last summer was brutal enough with 47°C in Delhi. But we should still take IMD warnings seriously. Better to be safe than sorry - keep hydrated and avoid unnecessary outings during peak heat hours. 👍
P
Priya M.
These fake alerts create unnecessary panic. But I appreciate PIB for quick clarification. Though I wonder why people create such rumors? Just for social media engagement? Shameful!
A
Amit S.
While 55°C claim is fake, we can't ignore that heatwaves are getting worse each year. Government should focus more on urban planning - need more green spaces and better infrastructure to handle extreme temperatures. Our cities are concrete heat islands!
S
Sunita R.
The part about snakes entering homes is what scared me most! Even if this alert is fake, these things do happen during summers. My nani always kept neem leaves near doors to repel them. Old wisdom still works better than fake alerts 😊
V
Vikram J.
PIB did good job clarifying, but why does fake news spread so fast in India? We need better digital literacy. Meanwhile, chaach and curd are excellent summer foods regardless of temperature - thanks for reminding me to have some! 🥛
N
Neha P.
Mobile explosions due to heat? Really? 😂 Whoever made this fake alert watched too many sci-fi movies! But seriously, we should verify before sharing such forwards. My WhatsApp uncles forward everything without checking!

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