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
Photograph shows loco pilot holding an umbrella onboard the newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express in Kerala as the roof was leaking.
Fact
Though reports indicate that there were roof leaks onboard the Vande Bharat express in Kerala, the viral photograph is five-year-old and reportedly from a passenger train in Dhanbad Rail Division.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express in Thiruvananthapuram. However, shortly after the event, a photograph of a train driver holding an umbrella while operating the panel to protect himself from water leaking from the roof started circulating widely. Many who shared the image claimed that it depicted the condition of the newly launched Vande Bharat Express in Kerala. While news reports confirmed the presence of roof leaks on the train, the viral photograph is actually old and is being shared in a false context.
Twitter user @KrisNair1 shared the viral photograph with the caption, “MODI’s “VANDE BHARAT” is a disaster same like Modi. On the 1st day of inauguration rain water started leaking from the roof of VB in Kerala. Picture speak for itself (sic).“ The screengrab of this tweet was widely circulated on Facebook as well.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, and here.
Several others shared the viral photograph calling out the Prime Minister for leakages in the newly flagged off Vande Bharat Express.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Newschecker also received the claim on our WhatsApp tipline (+91-9999499044) requesting to be fact checked.
Fact Check/Verification
By conducting a keyword search for “Vande Bharat,” “Kerala,” and “Leak” on Google, we came across several reports from the past 24 hours that confirmed the presence of leakages in the newly launched train.
According to a report by The Hindu, dated April 26, 2023, “Railways’ technical department staff from the Integral Coach Factory inspected the Vande Bharat Express on Wednesday following complaints of leakage in the AC grill of the train. The leakages were noticed in a coach during the train’s first journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod on Tuesday.”
Kerala-based-Mathrubhumi also reported, “Water was found leaking into one of the executive coaches of the Vande Bharat Express a few hours after its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.” The report added that the authorities were undertaking repair work to fix the leak.
Other reports on the incident can be seen here, here and here.
Notably, none of the reports mentioned that the train operator had to use an umbrella to protect himself from leakage, nor did they carry the viral photograph.
Hence, we continued our investigation to determine the source of the viral photograph.
After conducting a keyword search for “Train driver,” “umbrella,” and “leakage,” we found an article on Story Pick, dated August 10, 2017. The article included a tweet by journalist Sucheta Dalal that featured a video of a train driver operating the control panel of a train while holding an umbrella. The article stated that “the video is said to be from Dhanbad, Jharkhand.”
After comparing the viral photograph with the keyframes from the video, we came to the conclusion that it was captured from the footage that Dalal had shared.
The individual who recorded the video can be heard describing the inconvenience caused by the leak and expressing frustration that their bags are getting wet as a result. He further notes that this situation has persisted for several years.
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A Jansatta report, dated August 8, 2017, showcased the same viral photograph and provided additional details about the video that captured a train operator using an umbrella to shield himself from a water leak. The report mentioned that the incident took place in the Dhanbad Rail Division.
A report by Punjabi Kesari, dated August 8, 2017, also stated that the video is of a passenger train from Dhanbad Rail Division.
Other reports on the incident can be seen here, here, and here.
Conclusion
Despite multiple reports confirming the leakages onboard the recently launched Vande Bharat Express in Kerala, the viral photograph depicting a train driver using an umbrella to shield himself from water dripping from the roof is actually five years old. According to various sources, the incident captured in the photograph took place on a passenger train in the Dhanbad Rail Division.
Result: Partly False
Sources
Report By The Hindu, Dated April 26, 2023
Article By Story Pick, Dated August 10, 2017
Report By Jansatta, Dated August 8, 2017
Report By Punjabi Kesari, Dated August 8, 2017
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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.
