The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has rejected a fake message claiming that reservoirs supplying Hyderabad would run dry by the end of November, triggering severe water shortages or a halt in supply across the city.
The message, which has been circulating on social media, was presented as being issued by HMWSSB and linked the alleged water crisis to the ongoing El Niño effect. It claimed that most reservoirs would dry up by the end of November, resulting in severely restricted or no water supply for Hyderabad residents.
HMWSSB clarified that the message was false and appealed to residents not to believe or forward communications circulating in the name of Jalmandali without verification. The board’s response seeks to prevent an unverified warning from being mistaken for an official announcement about the city’s water infrastructure.
The incident highlights the importance of authenticated communication during periods of public concern over water availability. Messages carrying the name or identity of a public utility can influence household water storage, demand and public behaviour even when they have not been issued through an official channel.
While dismissing the viral claim, HMWSSB appealed to residents to use water carefully and avoid wastage. The board did not, in the information supplied, announce any water-supply restrictions or provide a separate forecast on reservoir levels.
Residents have been advised to verify future messages before sharing them, particularly when they claim that a city-wide change in water supply is imminent. HMWSSB’s clarification remains the latest official response cited in the report.
