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Amid rising summer temperatures, a viral social media post has warned of an extreme heatwave that may push temperatures up to 55 degrees Celsius.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the government’s official information arm, has labelled the circulating message as "completely fake."

The now-debunked message claimed to be an official government alert warning people to stay indoors between 10 am and 3 pm from May 29 to June 2 to avoid heatstroke. It also warned of “mobile explosions” due to the supposed extreme heat and advised increased consumption of water and liquids like curd and chaach.

The unsigned notification, attributing the message to the Directorate General of Civil Defence, also advised the public to stay alert for snakes and other creatures allegedly driven into homes by the high temperatures.

"The Centre has issued no such directive or notification," the PIB took to social media to clarify. It advised the people to refer only to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for verified and scientific information regarding weather forecasts.

IMD Forecast Indicates Elevated Temperatures

The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) official monthly outlook for May does predict higher-than-normal temperatures across much of the country. It also mentions a greater number of heatwave days, particularly in northwestern and central India.

However, it does not forecast the temperature spike to 55 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," a circular from the department clarified.

Public Urged To Rely On Official Sources

Officials have urged citizens not to fall prey to fear-mongering or misinformation, especially during extreme weather seasons when panic can spread quickly.

The government has advised people to consult the IMD’s official website or app for accurate and updated weather reports. The PIB also reminded users to verify any alarming claims via their fact-checking initiative before believing or forwarding them.