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
Video shows a massive crowd at the venue ahead of the Hathras stampede.
Fact
Old video falsely linked to the stampede in UP on July 2.
At least 121 people were dead after a stampede broke out at a religious congregation in Hathras on Tuesday. The ‘satsang’ was conducted by self-styled godman ‘Bhole Baba’ aka Narayan Sakar Hari in Phulrai village of the district. Immediately after the tragic news broke, multiple social media users shared unverified visuals claiming to show the Hathras stampede. One such video showing a huge crowd overlooking a convoy of cars is being linked to the same tragedy. Newschecker, however, found that the video is old, and does not show the godman’s recent ‘stansang.’
News major Times Now shared the video in an X post claiming, “Moments before the stampede, caught-on-camera: Sea of devotees seen on the ground in Hathras, where a stampede took place yesterday (July 2), claiming the lives of 121 people- #WATCH.” The post has since been deleted, however, an archived version of the same can be seen here.
Multiple other X users also shared a slightly longer version of the video linking it to the tragic Hathras stampede.
Such posts can be seen here and here.
Also Read: No, Viral Video Does Not Show Lighting Of Olympic Torch At A Paris Church
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing the viral footage, we spotted multiple people in the crowd wearing winter clothes, raising our doubts. We then compared the keyframes of the viral clip with the location of stampede in Hathras, as seen in an X post by news agency ANI, and noticed differences.
Further, we also noticed the watermark of “Traveller Sachin” in the middle of the screen.
Taking a clue, we looked up “Traveller Sachin” on Google, and found a YouTube channel by the same name. We skimmed through the channel, and found a video uploaded on February 9, 2024, titled “Mangal Divas Rupwas Bharatpur Rajasthan | Narayan Sakar Hari Ke Bhajan | Sataya Ka Sath Rajasthan”
We scanned through the video, and found the set up identical to the one seen in the viral footage.
Also Read: Excerpts Of LOP Rahul Gandhi’s Speech Shared In Wrong Context
Furthermore, around 7 minutes into the video, snippets from the viral clip can be seen.
We also found a Facebook post by ‘अजय देवगन का भक्त नाहर न्यूज’ from February, 2024, carrying a video from Narayan Sakar Hari’s programme at Bharatpur.
After comparing the visuals seen in the Facebook video with the viral footage, we could conclude that they both show the same event.
We were not independently able to ascertain other details about the video. However, it dates back to at least February, 2024 and has been falsely linked to the recent Hathras stampede.
Conclusion
Hence, an old video has been falsely linked to the recent stampede at a religious event in Hathras.
Result: False
Sources
X Post By @ANI, Dated July 3, 2024
YouTube Video By Traveller Sachin, Dated February 9, 2024
Facebook Post By ‘अजय देवगन का भक्त नाहर न्यूज,’ Dated February 7, 2024
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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.
