Fact Check: Misleading Video Viral in the Name of Gujarat Floods

New Delhi (Vishvas News) Many parts of India, mainly Gujarat and Rajasthan are facing devastating floods due to a rare land-based deep depression. Amidst this, a video has gone viral on social media showing a two-wheeler floating on a water-logged road. Some users are claiming that the video is from Gujarat, while others suggest it is from Mumbai.

Vishvas News’ investigation revealed that the viral video is from Jodhpur, Rajasthan and has no connection with Gujarat or Mumbai. 

What is the viral post?

X user @IamNarenderawat shared the video and two photos (archive link) on August 27, 2024, linking them to Gujarat.

The YouTube channel ‘Any Hindi News’ also posted this video, claiming it was from Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Instagram user ‘ayazkhanactor’ (archive link) shared the same video, suggesting it was from Mumbai.

Investigation

To verify the viral claim, we closely examined the video and noticed the person speaking in the clip mentions that it is a video of rain in Jodhpur.

We extracted the key frames of the video and searched them using Google Lens, which led us to the Ramroop Fitness YouTube channel where the video was uploaded on August 19, 2024 with the hashtag Jodhpur.

A clip from this video was uploaded on August 15 on another YouTube channel, depicting it as rain in Jodhpur.

X user Shenaz also posted this video on June 30 saying it is from Jodhpur.

In the video, the name ‘Dudheshwar Mahadev Mandir’ is visible. Using this as a reference, we located this temple on .

Jodhpur’s independent journalist, Ranjan Dave, confirmed that the viral video is from Jodhpur, not Gujarat, and is quite old. He explained that the area is narrow, so rain often causes the water to flow rapidly on roads.

This confirms that the viral video is from Jodhpur in Rajasthan. However, Gujarat has been experiencing heavy rainfall in many cities over the past few days. According to a news report published on Dainik Jagran’s website on August 29, 2024 at least 30 people died in the last three days due to heavy rains in Gujarat. On August 28, many parts of the state, including Vadodara, were heavily affected by floods in the Vishwamitri river and several other rivers flowing above the danger mark.

According to the data released on August 29 by the Indian Meteorological Department on their X handle, the highest rainfall in Saurashtra and Kutch from 8:30 am on August 28 to 8:30 am on August 29 was recorded at Nakhatarna station in Kutch, measuring 20 cm (200 mm).

Similarly, on August 28, the Indian Meteorological Department’s X handle reported that Dwarka received 430 mm of rainfall in 24 hours till 8.30 am.

This data gives an indication of the heavy rainfall in Gujarat. According to a press release issued by the Meteorological Department on August 29, the deep depression over Saurashtra and Kutch had gradually moved westwards. It is expected to reach the Arabian Sea and the adjoining coast of Saurashtra and Pakistan.

What is deep depression?

According to the Indian Meteorological Department’s website, wind speed between 31-61 km per hour is called a ‘depression’, while wind speed between 50-61 km per hour is called a ‘deep depression’. Wind speed between 62-88 km per hour is called a ‘cyclonic storm’.

A video uploaded on Skymet’s YouTube channel on August 28 reported that the deep depression over Gujarat has caused heavy rains for the last 2-3 days, leading to floods in more than half of the state. Had this system originated from the sea, the devastation would have been greater due to additional moisture from the sea. Fortunately, it approached from the land and this weather system is expected to gradually weaken as it moves into the sea.

A video uploaded on August 29, suggested that  September may also see significant rainfall and the monsoon may advance. So far, the country has received 7% more rainfall than usual. The deep depression has caused substantial damage in Gujarat.

Skymet Weather scientist Mahesh Palawat explains that the recent heavy rains in Gujarat were caused by the formation of a deep depression system. This system creates rising wind and cloud formation. The deep depression, which is just a level below a sea storm, is now expected to move into the Arabian Sea, providing relief to Gujarat from heavy rains.

We also reviewed the profile of the user who shared the video claiming it to be from Gujarat. The user has 83600 followers.