An image from a funeral is being shared on social media platforms to claim that it purportedly shows the last rites of Rafale pilot Squadron Leader Rohit Kataria.
What's the claim?: Those sharing the image have captioned it saying, "Big Breaking. Last rituals of Rafale pilot Svc No 32292 Squadron Leader Rohit Kataria who lost his life during fight with Pakistan on 7 May being held in his ancestral abode Dharamshala..."
What are the facts?: The image dates back to April 2008 and shows villagers paying last respects at a mass cremation of fifteen school girls in Bamroli, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This makes the claim false.
How did we find that out?: We conducted a reverse image search on the viral photo to verify its authenticity.
A Google Lens search directed us to the same visual published on a stock image website — Getty Images.
Its caption said, "Indian villagers pay last respects at a mass cremation of fifteen school girls at the banks of the river Orsang in Bamroli, some 165 kms from Ahmedabad on April 16, 2008..."
News report: An India Today report said that a Gujarat state transport bus that was carrying around 50 school children fell into the Narmada main irrigation canal.
The report said that the bodies of 44 victims, including the conductor, was recovered.
Conclusion: Evidently, the image is from 2008 and is unrelated to the recent escalations between India and Pakistan.
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