Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Visuals of a landslide in Manali amid incessant rainfall in Himachal Pradesh.
Fact
2019 video of shooting stones at Jammu-Srinagar highway in Ramban district.
As incessant downpour triggered landslides and flash floods in Himachal Pradesh, leaving at least five dead, social media platforms are inundated with unverified visuals of overflowing rivers, waterlogging, and landslides, claiming to show the dire situation in the northern state. One such video of massive rocks, and boulders falling freely from a mountain near a roadside is being widely shared, with users alleging that it shows a landslide in Manali. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue. The video dates back to 2019 and was shot at the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Ramban.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
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Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the alleged clip of a landslide in Manali led us to a Facebook post by @Savejmmu, dated July 28, 2019. Carrying the viral footage, the post stated, “(Attention commuters of NHW 44) In view of incessant rainfall,adverse weather conditions, frequent shooting stones/ blockages at multiple vulnerable places…commuters of NHW 44 are advised to avoid travel on Ramban- Banihal vulnerable stretch till the weather improves…” The advisory was attributed to the Traffic Police, NHW Ramban.
Taking a clue, we looked up “Ramban,” “highway” and “shooting stones” on Google, and set the time frame of the search from July 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019. This yielded a YouTube video by The Tribune, dated July 28, 2019. It featured snippets of the viral footage, and stated “Jammu-Srinagar highway closed due to shooting stones in Ramban”
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A detailed report on the incident, published in The Tribune, stated, “The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed for traffic due to shooting stones at various places between Ramban and Banihal stretch of the highway, falling in Ramban district of the state.” Adding, “All types of vehicular movement on the highway was stopped, including the Amarnath yatra, after heavy rain lashed the region, due to which Panthal area witnessed shooting stones. Other places, including Battery Chashma, Digdol and Marog, witnessed landslides.”
Video reports by Aaj Tak and ABP News from July 2019, also carried snippets from the viral clip to show an incident on Jammu-Srinagar highway in Ramban district.
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Conclusion
We can thus conclude that an old video from Jammu & Kashmir’s Ramban has been falsely shared as visuals of a landslide in Manali as rainfall wreaks havoc in Himachal Pradesh.
Result: False
Sources
Facebook Post By @Savejmmu, Dated July 28, 2019
Report By The Tribune, Dated July 29, 2019
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
