Fake flood rumours in Vijayawada cause panic, authorities take action

HYDERABAD: A social media rumour about the Budameru dam breaching and a potential flood in Vijayawada caused widespread panic.

The false information particularly alarmed residents of Ajit Singh Nagar, Payakapuram, and Kandrika areas, with many rushing out of their homes in fear on Saturday night.

The local police, led by CI Krishnamohan, acted swiftly to counter the spread of misinformation. Officers patrolled the streets with loudspeakers, urging people not to believe the fake reports. Efforts were also made to trace the origin of the rumour.

The Vijayawada Collector assured the public that there was no threat of a flood and urged residents not to trust baseless rumours. He also warned that strict action would be taken against those responsible for spreading misinformation.

A few youths, who were allegedly spreading the rumours by shouting on bikes, were taken into custody.

Minister P Narayana also responded, clarifying that the reports were false and appealed to the public to ignore them. Meanwhile, the YSRCP condemned the rumour-mongering, accusing a "psycho gang" of creating unnecessary chaos.