Fact Check: Is It Safe To Use Your Phone During A Solar Eclipse?

The first total solar eclipse of 2024, known as Surya Grahan, is set to occur on Monday, April 8. This event follows the year's first lunar eclipse, which happened on March 25, 2024. During a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow that can partially or completely block the Sun's light. This year Total Solar Eclipse will commence at 9:12 pm (IST) on April 8 and will conclude by 2:22 am on April 9.

However, a hoax WhatsApp message has been circulating, causing unnecessary panic. The message falsely claims that cosmic rays will pass very close to Earth during the eclipse and advises people to switch off their mobile phones at midnight. The message uses the names of reputable organizations like NASA and the BBC to lend credibility to its claims.

''Tonight between 12:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., make sure to turn off your cell phone, laptop, etc. and keep it away from your body. TV Singapore broke the news. Please inform your family and friends. Tonight, between 12:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., our earth will face the highest radiation. Cosmic light rays will pass near the earth. So turn off your phone etc. and keep it away from your body, because it will cause us harmful effects of radiation. You can see it on google and NASA and BBC news. Share this message with other people who are important to your family, friends, friends and even your wife. You can save many lives by doing this. Hope useful,'' it reads.

It's important to note that this message is a hoax. There is no scientific basis for the claim that cosmic rays will pass close to Earth during the eclipse. Earth's atmosphere provides protection from many harmful radiations, and there is no need to switch off electronic devices during the eclipse.