An image that shows a Chinook helicopter carrying a JCB excavator is being shared on social media platforms with users linking it to the recent flash floods in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
An X (formerly Twitter) account shared the photo with a caption in Hindi that said, "Due to road closures, a JCB machine was airlifted by helicopter to Chinook in Dharali, Uttarakhand."
What is the truth?: The image has been edited to mislead the viewers.
The first element showing Chinook helicopter dates back to 2020 and is unrelated to the recent floods in Uttarakhand.
The second element depicting a mountainous region is actually recent and shows the Dharali market area of Uttarkashi district.
How did we find that out?: We isolated the Chinook helicopter's frame and conducted a Google Lens search and found a similar visual published on a website named 'JetPhotos'.
As per the website, the photo was uploaded on October 2021 and its location was identified as Ghaziabad - Hindon Air Force Station.
Other sources: We found a similar image dating back to October 2020 and was published on a stock image website called 'Getty Images'. You can view the link here.
A report published in Rediff carried a similar visual, which showed the Chinook helicopter carrying a howitzer during a dress rehearsal for the Indian Air Force Day celebrations at the Hindon airbase.
What about the second element?: Repeating the isolation process for the second frame, we performed a reverse image search and found the same visual published in a report by Mint.
The photo's caption said that it showed the Dharali market area after the flash floods that was reportedly triggered by a cloudburst.
What did the Uttarkashi Police say?: The official X handle of Uttarkashi Police clarified that the viral image is fake and has no relation to the recent rescue operations in the state.
It was upload on 8 August and its caption said, "The aforementioned picture of a JCB being lifted by a Chinook is being linked by some people to the Harshil, Dharali disaster rescue in Uttarkashi, which is completely false and misleading."
Conclusion: Evidently, two images have been edited and stitched together to mislead the viewers.
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