With the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a severe summer in Andhra Pradesh starting in March, social media users aligned with the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) have begun circulating misleading reports.
The posts falsely claim that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered officials to reduce temperatures by 10 degrees Celsius.
A viral video clip, purportedly from a television news segment, shows Naidu instructing officials to lower the temperature by 10°C in the Amaravati region.
The clip has been widely shared on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, with sarcastic remarks.
One user mockingly commented: "Summer is coming, @ncbn sir. People say it’s getting too hot. Can you reduce the temperature by 10 degrees?"
Another X user posted the same video, echoing similar sentiments, while a Facebook user ridiculed Naidu for allegedly giving an impossible directive.
Fact-Check Team Debunks Viral Video as Fake
A fact-checking team has since dismissed the video as fake news, clarifying that the footage was from a May 2018 teleconference held during Naidu’s previous tenure as Chief Minister.
During a review meeting on the "Neeru-Pragati" water conservation program, Naidu discussed environmental measures such as afforestation and water conservation, stating: "Such steps could help reduce temperatures by up to 10 degrees. Increasing green cover in the region will mitigate the effects of extreme heat."
This statement was misrepresented to suggest that Naidu had issued an unrealistic directive to artificially lower temperatures.
The fact-checking team has urged social media users to verify information before sharing and to be cautious of manipulated content aimed at misleading the public.
