Fact check: Viral Amaravati flood image is misleading; actual image is from Vijayawada floods in September 2024
India has been experiencing heavy rainfall in various states over the past few months. Telangana’s Hyderabad faced
India has been experiencing heavy rainfall in various states over the past few months. Telangana’s Hyderabad faced severe flooding after 16 locations recorded over 10 cm of rain, prompting flood alerts and rescue efforts on August 8, 2025. The Indian Meteorological Department forecasted thunderstorms and heavy rains in parts of Andhra Pradesh, accompanied by strong winds. The Telugu states are set to experience significant rainfall due to the ongoing surface circulation. Rainfall is anticipated throughout Andhra Pradesh, with the heaviest precipitation expected in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a viral image showing people walking in knee-deep floodwater is circulating with the claim that it is a recent image from Amaravati, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. The satirical caption in Telugu reads: “అమరావతిలో మార్నింగ్ వాక్ చేస్తున్న ప్రజలు” — translated, “People taking a morning walk in Amaravati.”
Here is the archive link of the claim.
Fact Check:
The claim is misleading. The image is an old one from September 2024. A Google reverse image search showed that the same photo appeared in several news reports. One such report from Outlook India states that torrential rains and floods in Andhra Pradesh had claimed over 32 lives. Officials noted that as many as 45,369 people were evacuated to relief camps in the state. NTR district, which includes Vijayawada, reported 24 deaths, Guntur seven, and Palnadu one fatality.
An X post shared by FactCheck AP confirmed that the image was from the floods in Vijayawada when the Budameru stream overflowed in September 2024. The Telugu caption read: “గత ఏడాది (2024) సెప్టెంబర్లో బుడమేరు వాగు పొంగి విజయవాడలో వరదలు వచ్చాయి. దానికి సంబంధించిన మీడియాలో ఆనాడు వచ్చిన ఫోటోను మార్ఫింగ్ చేసి, ఇలా ఫేక్ పోสต์ తయారు చేశారు. రాజధాని అమరావతి ప్రతిష్టను దెబ్బతీయాలన్న కుట్రతో ఇటువంటి ఫేక్ పోస్టులు పెడుతున్న వారిపైనా, ఉద్దేశపూర్వకంగా షేర్ చేస్తున్న వారిపైనా చట్టపరంగా కేసులు నమోదు చేసి కఠిన చర్యలు తీసుకోవడం జరుగుతుంది.”
When Translated it states "In September last year (2024), the Budameru stream overflowed, causing floods in Vijayawada. A photo from that day's media coverage was morphed to create a fake post like this. Legal cases are being registered, and strict action is being taken against those posting such fake content to tarnish the prestige of the capital, Amaravati, as well as against those who are deliberately sharing it.”
According to Deccan Chronicle, life came to a standstill in many parts of Vijayawada and nearby areas, with over 17,000 people affected by the heavy rains. The city recorded the heaviest rainfall in 50 years, prompting large-scale relief and rescue operations. On September 2, 2024, Vijayawada was effectively trapped between the overflowing Budameru stream and the roaring Krishna River.
The viral image is not recent and does not show Amaravati. It depicts the severe floods in Vijayawada in September 2024 when the Budameru stream overflowed. The claim that it shows the current situation in Amaravati is misleading.