An order made rounds across various social media platforms and Whatsapp, which was purportedly issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India that claimed a re-imposition of nationwide lockdown from September 25.

The notice, bearing the Indian emblem and written under the heading of Government of India, Plan and Policy division of the National Disaster Management Authority, stated that “with the signs of COVID-19 peak arriving in India with the increasing daily cases and deaths, in exercise of the powers under the section 6(2)(1) of the Disaster Management Act 2005, on 10th September and on 1st December 2020, the National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) hereby directs the Ministries/Departments of Government of India, State governments and Union Territories to take preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. These measures have already been issued by the authority.”

However, the basis of the claim of the message couldn’t be found, neither was there any corroborating evidence for the same. There is no evidence to back the claim as there was no official confirmation of the notice. Nor the Indian government neither any official leader, party or agency has shared the information that was circulated en masse.

The Press Information Bureau fact-checking handle on Twitter also junked the claims of the order to reimpose nationwide lockdowns. 

The PIB Fact check account stated that an image of an order purportedly issued by the NDMA which was circulating on social media platforms and chat service Whatsapp was fake and added “ @National Disaster Management Authority of Indian has not issued any such order to re-impose lockdown. ”

The notice had further stated, “In order to contain the spread of COVID-19 and decrease the mortality rate in the country, the National Disaster Management Authority along with the planning commission hereby urges the Government of India and directs the Prime Minister Office, Ministry of Home Affairs to reimpose a strict nationwide lockdown of 46 days starting from midnight 25th September 2020.”