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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KSRTC to run 1000 special services to clear Christmas rush
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will operate 1000 additional special services in view of the Christmas festival.
In addition to the existing schedule, the special services will run on 19.12.2025, 20.12.2025 and 24.12.2025. Further, special buses will be operated from various places of intra & Interstate places to Bengaluru on 26.12.2025 & 28.12.2025.
Special buses will be exclusively operated from Bengaluru Kempegowda Bus Station to Dharmastala, Kukkesubramanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Shringeri, Horanadu, Davangere, Hubbali, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppala, Yadgir, Bidar, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places.
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Special buses from Mysuru Road Bus Station will be exclusively operated towards Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalanagar, Madikeri.
The corporation has also announced a discount of 5 per cent on the fare if four or more passengers book tickets under a single reservation. A discount of 10 per cent will be extended on return journey tickets if onward and return tickets are booked simultaneously.
In addition to the above, special buses will be operated from all Taluk/District Bus Stands in the jurisdiction of KSRTC based on the traffic needs.
