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.
Multiple countries around the world have stepped up and offered their assistance in the rescue and relief operations in Turkey and Syria after a devastating earthquake jolted the countries last week killing at least 30,000. Under Operation Dost, the Indian government has also sent specialised teams to aid the rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria.
In this context, a video showing a few men in NDRF uniform sliding down from a helicopter is doing the rounds on social media platforms. Those who shared the footage claimed that it showed the NDRF team landing in Turkey to participate in the rescue and relief operations. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue.
Multiple Twitter users shared the 45-second-long-clip with the caption, “#NDRF relief team has successfully landed to #Turkey hopefully in this hard time India will help them a lot Jai Hind.”
Archived versions of such tweets can be seen here, here, here and here.
Newschecker also received the video on our WhatsApp tipline (+91-9999499044) requesting to be fact checked.
Also Read: Reports Of Pakistan Denying Airspace To IAF Aircraft Carrying Relief Material To Turkey Are Not True
Fact Check/Verification
On scanning through the comment sections of the post carrying the viral video, we spotted multiple users pointing out that the clip was from a training exercise.
Taking a clue, we conducted a keyword search for “NDRF,” “training” and “helicopter” on YouTube, which led us to a video by @sweetworld5285, dated July 8, 2021. It carried the widely circulated footage of NDRF troops using a harness to slide down from a helicopter.
Notably the viral video can be traced back to at least July 2021. The earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023, following which India launched “Operation Dost” to assist the rescue and relief efforts in the affected countries. We could conclude that the clip predates the occurrence of the earthquake, and hence does not show India’s NDRF personnel landing in Turkey for rescue efforts.
Additionally, while the Air Force’s planes have been used to transport personnel and material needed for rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria, the viral video actually shows a helicopter. Images and videos of aircrafts used in Operation Dost can be seen here, here and here.
Newschecker further reached out to NDRF PRO who clarified that the video is from a training exercise, and not from Turkey.
Conclusion
Viral post claiming to show the NDRF team landing in Turkey to adi rescue and relief operation after last week’s devastating earthquake is false. The video is from a training exercise and can be traced back to at least 2021.
Result: False
Sources
YouTube Video By @sweetworld5285, Dated July 8, 2021
Press Release By MEA, Dated February 08, 2023
Telephonic Conversation With NDRF PRO on February 13, 2023
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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.
