VB Fact-Check: Viral video of railway track collapse near Mirjan in Kumta proven false
Kumta: Amid widespread fear due to recent landslides near Shirur in the taluk and Wayanad in Kerala, a viral video showing a railway track collapse near Mirjan in Kumta has sparked concern among the public. However, authorities have confirmed that the video is fake.
The video, which has been circulating on social media, purportedly shows the earth collapsing under a railway track and water flowing rapidly beneath it. The incident was claimed to have occurred on August 1, with warnings issued to the railway department about an oncoming train on the affected route.
Following the video's circulation, many citizens contacted railway stations for clarification. Railway officials have assured the public that no such incident has occurred. They also announced plans to take legal action against those spreading such misinformation.
Vartha Bharati's Investigation:
1. Multiple Claims: A fact-check by Vartha Bharati revealed that the same video has been shared on various social media platforms, including YouTube, with different locations cited. Some posts claimed the video was from Rajasthan, while others mentioned Madhya Pradesh.
2. Local Verification: Another claim suggested the video was from Mirjan near Kumta in Uttara Kannada district. However, local railway officials confirmed that the video did not originate from Kumta and there was no cause for alarm. They emphasized that the video was being used to incite panic and reiterated their intent to pursue legal action against the perpetrators.
3. Origin of the Video: Using Google Lens to search for the screengrabs of the viral video, Vartha Bharati found numerous posts and videos uploaded over the past month, each claiming different locations. Despite extensive searches, Vartha Bharati was unable to independently verify the video's origin but confirmed it was not from Mirjan in Kumta.
The spread of such fake news amid natural calamities can exacerbate public fear and hinder effective disaster response. Authorities are urging people to rely on verified information and report any suspicious content to prevent the spread of misinformation.
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Trump says he ‘hasn’t even thought about’ continuing Iran ceasefire
Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he has not yet considered whether he would continue the ceasefire involving Iran, while also claiming the United States holds the advantage in negotiations.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was prepared to make a deal with “whoever is running the show” in Iran.
“They are fighting with each other, there’s tremendous infighting. They’re probably fighting for leadership in many cases. I think they’re fighting not to be leader because we knocked out two levels of leaders,” he said.
Trump added, “When they want they can call me. We have all the cards, we’ve won everything.”
Referring to ongoing negotiations, he said, “They gave us a paper that should’ve been better. And, interestingly, immediately when I cancelled it [envoy trip to Pakistan], within 10 minutes we got a new paper that was much better.”
“We talked about they will not have a nuclear weapon, very simple … They offered a lot, but not enough,” he added.
When asked whether he would continue the ceasefire, Trump replied, “I haven’t even thought about it.”
The remarks come as uncertainty remains over the future of the temporary truce and broader negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
