Authors
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.
The cyclone Biparjoy that made landfall in Gujarat’s Kutch district was the first cyclone to cross Gujarat coast in 25 years. The cyclone was one of a kind for many reasons. Firstly, it was formed in the Arabian sea, which sees fewer cyclones compared to the warm waters of Bay of Bengal. This very reason made it difficult for weathermen to foresee the trajectory of the cyclone. The fact that the cyclone would make landfall in Gujarat was thus predicted only a couple of days before the actual landfall. But that is not all. The cyclone sustained for 222 hours, which meant that not only did it flood the regions close to the western coast with heavy rains and thunderstorms, but also the internet with old, unrelated and CGI videos being shared in the current context.
For instance, a CGI video showing a massive storm in the horizon of seemingly placid seas was shared, claiming to show the cyclone approaching Gujarat coast. Another CGI video showed the storm descending from the sky onto the surface of the sea and allegedly approach the Gujarat coastline. Many users also shared a video of coconut trees swaying in the wind, alleging that the trees were bearing the brunt of the severe cyclone Biparjoy as it neared Maharashtra. However, this video was traced back to 2020, and not linked to the recent cyclone.
As the cyclone approached the Gujarat coast, more videos showing crashing waves and wild seas became viral. Many other old videos surfaced, like this one that showed a massive wave drench a reporter while reporting live, or this 2021 footage showing a locality of Jamnagar district being inundated by the rain.
The cyclone held the top trends slot throughout the time it took to cross the Arabian sea and make the landfall, with 16 of 55 total claims that were fact checked in the last week being related to cyclone Biparjoy.
Namaz Row Back In Spotlight
Namaz in public places has been controversial since the recent past in India, with many opposing the practice, citing obstruction of public order and overt display of religious beliefs in public spaces. Many users have shared videos and posts on social media lashing out and mocking the practice. One such video has gone viral in recent times, allegedly showing a man performing namaz on top of an electricity transmission tower ‘to be closer to Allah’. The video was found to be from Columbia and showed a man, who was climbing down a pylon after being dissuaded from taking his own life, being electrocuted after coming in contact with high tension wires.
Video Of Mule Handlers Assaulting Kedarnath Devotees Shared With Communal Spin
A look at the top targets of misinformation last week revealed that 9% of the total 55 claims debunked last week targeted Muslims. One such claim in this theme was centred around a group of pilgrims being attacked by horse and mule handlers in Kedarnath. Users who shared the video alleged that the pilgrims were attacked by Muslims, but a fact check by Newschecker has found that the handlers were all Hindus and that the claim was fake.
Adipurush Hits The Screen, Misinformation Follows Suite
The much anticipated modern retelling of Ramayana on the silver screen, Adipurush, hit theatres on June 16. In the wake of this, a claim is going viral on social media claiming that the seat next to the one reserved for Lord Hanuman will cost twice the regular price. Newschecker found this to be false. There have been several such social media posts around Adipurush that surfaced on social media, including one that claimed that Dalits would not be allowed to watch the movie in theatres. This was confirmed as fake by the makers of the movie.
Ahead Of PM’s Visit To US, Blinken’s Fake Statement Goes Viral
With PM Modi set to visit US on June 21, and lead the Yoga day events at the UN, a purported public statement of US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, criticising India’s External Affairs minister S Jaishankar over the “persecution of Christians” in India, has been going viral. The viral forward alleges that Blinken questioned the EAM on the situation of minorities in India, especially the christian community. While Blinken did raise concerns on human rights abuses in India in 2022 April, the statement purportedly attributed to Anthony Blinken in the viral message was found to be purely a work of fiction.
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Authors
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.
