A Viral Video Sparks Outrage but Holds a Hidden Truth
In early 2025, as hundreds of millions of Hindu pilgrims made their way to the Kumbh Mela—a centuries-old religious festival in Prayagraj, India—a troubling video began circulating on social media. The clip,shared widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, appeared to show a train conductor taking money from an elderly Hindu man who was supposedly traveling to the festival. The video quickly went viral, with many calling for strict action against the conductor. However, there was a critical twist: the video was not what it seemed.
The Video’s Misleading Context
The video in question was originally filmed in 2019, long before the 2025 Kumbh Mela. It showed a man in a black coat—later identified as a train conductor—accepting money from an older man and then returning a portion of it. A Hindi-language caption accompanying the video on X falsely claimed that the conductor had taken all the money from a poor passenger headed to the festival. The caption urged people to make the video viral, demanding harsh punishment for the conductor.
Uncovering the Video’s Origin
A closer examination of the video revealed its true origins. A reverse image search conducted by fact-checkers found that the clip had been published by a Hindi news outlet, ETV Bharat, on July 26, 2019. The headline of the article read, “Chandauli: Video of conductor extorting money from a railway passenger goes viral, conductor suspended.” The report detailed how the conductor had taken money from a passenger who did not have a valid ticket, kept some of it, and returned the rest when the passenger claimed he had no more money.
Indian Railways Responds to the Misinformation
Rahul Jha, a spokesperson for Indian Railways, clarified the situation in a statement to AFP on February 6, 2025. He confirmed that the video was from 2019 and had no connection to the Kumbh Mela. Jha explained that the conductor had indeed taken a bribe from the passenger, who was traveling without a ticket. When the passenger said he had no more money, the conductor returned some of the cash. Jha emphasized that the conductor had already faced consequences for his actions, including suspension, and that the video was being shared with a false narrative.
The Broader Issue of Misinformation
The viral video highlights a growing problem in the digital age: the rapid spread of misinformation, often fueled by emotional or sensational claims. In this case, the video was weaponized to falsely accuse a railway official of targeting a vulnerable individual during a religious pilgrimage. Similar false claims about the Kumbh Mela have been debunked by fact-checkers in recent months, underscoring the need for vigilance and responsible sharing of content online.
Lessons and Next Steps
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information before sharing it. It also raises questions about the role of social media platforms in amplifying false narratives. For its part, Indian Railways has taken steps to address the issue, including investigating the matter and suspending the conductor involved. Meanwhile, fact-checking organizations like AFP continue to play a crucial role in debunking such claims and ensuring the public has access to accurate information. As events like the Kumbh Mela bring millions of people together, it is more important than ever to combat misinformation and promote truth.
