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Fact Check
A set of four photos showing cities blanketed in thick smog are being shared online, claiming to depict the current pollution situation in Noida and Faridabad, part of Delhi-NCR.
All four viral photos are old images from China, misattributed to Indian cities.
As pollution levels in Delhi-NCR continue to deteriorate, a set of dramatic photos showing cities covered in thick smog is going viral on social media, with many users claiming they show recent scenes from Noida and Faridabad.
The claim gained traction amid worsening air quality in the region, with Delhi-NCR cities featuring among the most polluted in India. However, a fact-check reveals that the images are actually from China, not India.
The archived version of the post can be seen here, which has clocked 272.8K views so far.
A reverse image search of the first photo led to a Guardian report (September 15, 2015) showing the same image, described as Beijing buildings blanketed in heavy smog in January 2014. A National Geographic article (January 14, 2014) also featured the image, credited to Xinhua Press, confirming it was taken in China.
The second viral photo appeared in a Hindustan Times report (November 5, 2021) attributed to AFP, stating it showed Beijing buildings on a polluted day. The same image was also found in a Daily Mail article (November 5, 2021) on Beijing’s heavy smog caused by coal emissions.
A reverse image search of the third photo led to a BBC report (May 4, 2017) about a dust storm that choked northern China, featuring the same skyline image from Beijing. The photo was also used by Caixin Global (May 4, 2017), attributed to Visual China, describing the China Central Television building in Beijing obscured by dust.
The fourth photo appeared in a Forbes article (October 24, 2017), describing buildings shrouded in smog in China. A Guardian article (December 10, 2013) credited the image to Getty Images, stating it was taken in Lianyungang, China.
The viral images claiming to show smog in Noida and Faridabad are not recent and not from India. All four photographs were taken in China between 2013 and 2021, and are being misattributed amid current pollution concerns in Delhi-NCR.
1. Are the viral photos really from Noida or Faridabad?
No. All the photos were traced to reports from China, primarily Beijing and Lianyungang, taken years ago.
2. Why are old photos from China being shared now?
Such images often resurface during pollution spikes in India to create false visual associations with local conditions.
3. How can I verify such images myself?
You can perform a reverse image search using Google or TinEye to check when and where an image first appeared.
Sources
The Guardian, September 15, 2015
National Geographic, January 14, 2014
Hindustan Times, November 5, 2021
Daily Mail, November 5, 2021
BBC, May 4, 2017
Caixin Global, May 4, 2017
Forbes, October 24, 2017
The Guardian, December 10, 2013
False
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