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.
Claim
Visuals of heavy traffic in Manali, Himachal Pradesh “due to Christmas-New Year holidays.”
Link to the post can be found here.
Fact
A Google reverse image search on the viral photograph led us to a post by Facebook community, @I.Love.Kullu.HP, dated July 5, 2022. Displaying the widely circulated photograph, the post stated, “Manali Roads now a day.. (sic).” The image was credited to the Instagram account of user @theyashhanda.
Taking a clue, we scanned through the Instagram account of @theyashhanda, and found the viral photograph posted by the user on January 27, 2022.
The user had shared another photograph of the same location from a different angle on January 29, 2022.
We could thus conclude that the viral picture showing an aerial view of multiple columns of vehicles stranded on the hills is nearly one year old and does not show the current situation in Manali.
Furthermore, a Facebook user @liegendindiaholiiday, shared the same image identifying the location as “Nehru Khund (Kund), Manali, Himachal Pradesh.”
Following this, we looked up “Nehru Kund, Manali” on Google Earth View and found the terrain and topological features nearby the said ‘Kund’ identical to the one seen in the viral image.
Newschecker has further reached out to @theyashhanda to know when the photograph was exactly taken. The article will be updated upon receiving a response from him.
We could thus conclude that though the viral photograph shows visuals from manali, it is not recent. The picture is at least 11-month-old and is being shared out of context.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
Facebook Post By @I.Love.Kullu.HP, Dated July 5, 2022
Instagram Post By @theyashhanda, Dated January 27, 2022
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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.
