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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“Voters were intimidated, threatened,” alleges Uttar Pradesh Cong Chief Ajay Rai
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai on Saturday alleged that the voters were intimidated and threatened by the ruling BJP regime. Rai's remarks came as counting for nine Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh shows a strong performance by the BJP and its ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
“It was already decided in UP that the BJP is fighting the elections with the help of its machinery. The result of that has come out. All the machinery of the government, from police to administration, was deployed. Voters were intimidated and threatened. This is a complete murder of democracy,” Rai said, as reported by Hindustan Times.
According to latest ECI trends the BJP and its ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is performing strongly. Out of the nine Assembly constituencies where bypolls were held, the BJP is leading in five seats—Kundarki, Khair, Ghaziabad, Phulpur, and Majhawan. Its ally, the RLD, is ahead in Meerapur. The Samajwadi Party (SP), however, is not far behind, leading in three constituencies: Karhal, Katehari, and Sisamau.
