Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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
Residents of Chennai having fun amid the floods triggered by cyclone Michaung.
The archived version of the tweet can be seen here.
Fact
Newschecker first ran a reverse image search of keyframes of the video, which led us to this Facebook post, dated November 14, 2021, uploaded by Kanyakumari Heritage Society, featuring the viral video in an extended clip, indicating that it is old.
We then ran a relevant keyword search, which led us to this Youtube video from Kerala media outlet Kaumudy Global, dated November 15, 2021, headlined “Watch: Locals playing football, doing push-ups in gushing waters amid flood| Kanyakumari rains”.
“Many parts of Kanyakumari are still underwater as a result of the three days of incessant rainfalls recorded in the region. The torrential rains left many parts of the district inundated with thousands of people evacuated and shifted to relief camps…In some videos that surfaced on social media recently, some locals are seen swimming and enjoying in the gushing waters that are capable of destroying the entire district. Some are seen playing volleyball while some others are doing push-ups. On the other hand, women are swimming and floating on the gushing waters along with their children,” read the description.
We then came across this News18 report, dated November 15, 2021, sharing the viral video, among other clips, of youngsters playing and having a good time in flood-hit Kanyakumari, thus confirming the viral video is not related to the 2023 Chennai floods.
Result: False
Source
Youtube video, Kaumudy Global, November 15, 2021
News18 report, November 15, 2021
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
