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 heavy rainfall and hailstorm in Maharashtra/Telangana.
Fact
The video was captured in Nepal’s Chitwan district in April 2020.
As heavy rains and hailstorms lashed several parts of the country including Rajasthan, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh, a video is being widely shared on social media platforms claiming to show the impact of the hailstorm. While some users identified the location as Maharashtra, others claimed that the video was from Telangana. However, Newschecker has found that the video is old, and is from Nepal.
Such posts can be seen here and here.
Also Read: Is It Raining Worms In China? Know The Truth Behind Viral Video Here
FactCheck/Verification
A Yandex reverse image search on the keyframes of the viral video led us to a Facebook post by @SKJABharti, dated April 30, 2020. The post featured a longer version of the viral clip, and stated, “The consequences of indiscriminate exploitation of nature are now coming to the fore looking at the intensity with which hailstorms have occurred recently, it seems that we all should immediately take a pledge to make serious efforts for the conservation and improvement of nature, otherwise we will have to repent… (translated from Hindi.)”
The longer version of the video was also uploaded on YouTube by Saikyou Hero on April 24, 2020, titled ‘Severe hailstorm destroys paddy field.’
We continued our investigation and found that the video was uploaded on Daily Motion on April 28, 2020 to show the situation in Nepal.
A Facebook post by @aajtaknepalnews, dated April 21, 2020, also featured the video to show a hailstorm in Nepal’s Chitwan.
Further, a keyword search for “Hailstorm,” “Chitwan,” & “Nepal” on YouTube led us to a video by Ho Nepali Ho, dated April 30, 2020.
It carried the viral video, along with other visuals of the exact location where it was shot. In the background, the narrator, identifying himself as one Diwakar Bartaula, is heard saying that he had captured the viral footage of hailstorm. Adding,”This location is Gadeuli of Rapti Municipality-2 in Chitwan district, Bagmati Province in Nepal.”
Old Video Revived, Yet Again !
During our research, Newschecker found that different versions of the same footage were shared over the past two years claiming to show the situation in Telangana and Chhattisgarh and in some cases, even Vietnam.
Conclusion
We could hence conclude that the viral footage of the hailstorm is neither recent nor is it from India. The video dates back to April 2020, and was captured in Nepal’s Chitwan district.
Result: False
Sources
Facebook Post By @SKJABharti, Dated April 30, 2020
Video Uploaded On Daily Motion, Dated April 28, 2020
Facebook Post By @aajtaknepalnews, Dated April 21, 2020
YouTube Video By Ho Nepali Ho, Dated April 30, 2020
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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.
