PIB Fact Check exposes fake video claiming IAF helicopter crash during Op Sindoor
New Delhi [India], May 8 (ANI): The Fact Check unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has debunked another misinformation campaign by Pakistan-based social media handles falsely claiming an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter crash linked to India's 'Operation Sindoor'.
The Fact Check unit, in its attempt to expose the blatant hijacking of the narrative, on Thursday clarified that the viral video showing the crash of the IAF helicopter was actually from a 2019 incident involving an IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopter crash near Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a post on X, the PIB Fact Check unit stated, 'Viral Video Alert! Truth Behind the Aircraft Crash Linked to Operation Sindoor! Pakistani social media accounts are recycling an old video and sharing it in the present context... The video is from an earlier incident from 2019, involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter that crashed near Budgam, J&K.'
The post included a link to a 2019 release by the Ministry of Defence on the crash, stating, 'On 27 February 2019, one Mi-17 V5 helicopter of Indian Air Force got airborne from Srinagar airfield at 1000 hrs for a routine mission. The helicopter crashed around 1010 hrs near Budgam, J&K. All six air warriors on board the helicopter suffered fatal injuries. A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the accident.'
The PIB's post featured screenshots of Pakistani social media accounts, falsely claiming the video depicted a recent IAF crash during Operation Sindoor. The PIB stamped the video with a 'FAKE' label, warning against the spread of such propaganda and urging the public to rely on verified sources.
The Pakistani side has jumped into a misinformation war against India following India's precision missile strikes targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor.
It shows Pakistan's desperate attempt to shift the focus with a barrage of lies and digital theatrics.
Pakistan's state-affiliated accounts have turned to their familiar playbook of recycling outdated images, misrepresenting old videos, and inventing completely fabricated claims to flood the information space with falsehoods so quickly and overwhelmingly that it becomes difficult to separate fact from fiction.
One of the most prominent examples of Pakistan's desperate attempt at such theatrics is the viral image falsely claiming that the Pakistan Army had shot down an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur. The image, however, was debunked by PIB Fact Check, which confirmed that it was actually from a MiG-21 crash in Moga, Punjab, in 2021 - entirely unrelated to current events. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
BJP celebrates 11 yrs of Modi govt, INDIA bloc snubs ‘misgovernance'
Ranchi: on Tuesday held various programmes across Jharkhand to mark 11 years of govt at the Centre. In Ranchi, senior party leader and former Union minister Smriti Irani attended a series of programmes hailing the Modi-led govt's achievements to put India on the global map. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ruling alliance INDIA bloc alliance parties, however, criticised the Modi govt, saying it was misgovernance during which the country has seen scores of atrocities against sections of society. Irani enumerated how the last 11 years have been decisive under Modi's rule for India to become an emerging economy. She cited the historic events and achievements over the last decade right from the abrogation of Article 370 to Operation Sindoor. "The nation's global footprint across various sectors, including supplying Covid-19 vaccines to 160 countries, is hailed by one and all," she said. Irani also said, "In 11 years, the Modi govt achieved the impossible, even forcing the opposition to praise. Today, the world looks at India with respect. The strength of the Indian flag has increased globally. Through the Jan Dhan accounts, 500 million people were benefited by govt schemes, 810 million people received free foodgrain every month and 150 million homes got tap water, among others," she said. Dubbing the 11 years of Modi govt as misgovernance, JMM spokesperson Tanuj Khatri said, "BJP is unaware of the ground reality as it can't hear the cries of the people, their struggles, and the questions the govt is yet to answer, be it on jobs or farm crisis among others. Talking about Jharkhand, tribals are demanding the Sarna code but the Centre continues to ignore them. The state assembly had unanimously passed a resolution in favour of the code, but Modi govt continues to block it. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " He added, "The prolonged violence in Manipur, particularly the brutalities faced by women, expose the govt's apathy. The PM's silence in such a grave constitutional crisis reflects not only administrative failure but moral bankruptcy. The list is long." State Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh added, "In 11 years, BJP worked towards demeaning the constitutional norms and institutions. Crimes against women have nearly doubled according to the NCRB data and the PM couldn't dare to speak on foreign debt and India's isolation due to its flawed foreign policy among others. Central govt's policies, not only led to a rise in unemployment, but workers' rights have also been curtailed. "
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
2 held for trying to snatch bag containing cash
1 2 Prayagraj: Kaushambi police on Tuesday arrested two men who had allegedly made an abortive bid to rob a Gujarat based trader Bhavesh Kumar Barot near Jaiswal eatery on May 15 after they snatched the bag of the trader travelling from Prayagraj to Delhi. Gujarat-based snatchers were identified as Praveen Singh Devda and Devda Nirmal Singh, residents of Banaskantha (Gujarat). The duo tried to loot to pay their loans and dues. The snatching of the bag containing the amount turned out to be a heist bid, as the snatchers' actions caused the bag to open and the cash inside spilled onto the road. A strong gust of wind further scattered the currency notes, leading to a scramble by bystanders for the money. Co-passengers and dhaba staff intervened, collected the scattered notes, and handed them back to the trader. After registering an FIR regarding the incident, SP (Kaushambi) Rajesh Kumar constituted three police teams, including SOG and surveillance, to ensure the arrest of the snatchers. After scanning suspicious mobile numbers and CCTV footage, cops managed to arrest two out of three miscreants involved in the snatching incident. Arrested miscreant Devra Nirmal Singh told police that his maternal uncle, Patel Dhawal Kumar, informed him that a trader with good amount of money was travelling by a luxury bus from Prayagraj to Delhi on May 15 and asked him to snatch the bag containing the amount. As the accused had to pay their long-pending dues and clear loans, Nirmal Singh inducted his cousin Praveen Singh Devda in his plan. According to the plan, they first reached Prayagraj from Gujarat and stayed in Prayagraj for a day. Miscreants booked seats in the same bus the trader bookedand decided to snatch the bag whenever the bus stopped near an eatery joint. On the night of May 15, when the bus stopped near a dhaba, they first stepped out from the bus as per the plan and managed to snatch the bag. As the duo tried to snatch his bag filled with currency notes, it burst open, and the notes spilled out, scattering in the wind. Upon being alerted, police later intervened to retrieve the businessman's cash from the people who collected it. Police, however, claimed that they were probing why the trader was carrying such a huge amount of cash with him despite the availability of online transaction modes for the collection of the amount.
Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Indus treaty: More storage for projects in first stages, no change in others, says Govt
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal said Tuesday that India will plan more water storage for hydro projects in J&K that are still in the initial stages, but no changes will be made for projects already in the pipeline. At a media briefing, the Minister said, 'Where Indus Waters Treaty is concerned, no changes will be made for projects that are in the pipeline, because the technical details have been finalised. There are some projects that are in the initial stages, for which we can plan more water storage and electricity generation.' Following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, the government put in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, which restricts hydroelectric projects in the Indus river basin from including any significant water storage capacity. Now, the government is likely to increase storage capacity for new projects. Currently, there are four hydro projects in J&K that have been concurred by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the country's apex power planning body, but are yet to be taken up for construction. These include New Ganderbal (93 MW) on the Sindh Nallah, Kirthai-II (930 MW) and Sawalkot (1,856 MW) on the Chenab, and Uri-I Stage-II (240 MW) on the Jhelum. As of April, all these projects are planned as run-of-the-river, with three including limited pondage capacity. The CEA is also exploring the Bursar storage-based hydro project (800 MW) on the Marusudar river, a tributary of the Chenab, which is currently under the survey and investigation (S&I) stage. Two more run-of-the-river projects – Dulhasti Stage-II (260 MW) and Kirthai I (390 MW) – are also under examination. According to the CEA, J&K has a balance potential of nine more hydro projects, with a cumulative capacity of 1,088 MW. Out of these, two are planned with storage – Gangbal (48 MW) and Wardwan Bursar (255 MW) – and the remaining are all run-of-the-river projects. Earlier, The Indian Express had reported that the Centre was looking to fast-track four hydroelectric projects on the Chenab – Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Ratle (850 MW), Kiru (624 MW), and Kwar (540 MW). Pakal Dul is the first storage-based hydro project being built in J&K. Once completed, it will have a live storage capacity of nearly 109 million cubic metres (mcm) and is expected to be commissioned by September 2026, according to the CEA. At the briefing, Manohar Lal also said the country's power sector faced cyberattacks in 'large numbers' during Operation Sindoor, all of which were countered by installed firewalls. 'During Operation Sindoor, (power sector) systems were attacked in large numbers. However, we countered each attack, hence there were no losses.' Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal said heavy malicious traffic was detected and addressed by firewalls. The Minister said, 'Cybersecurity is being strengthened for all projects, be it generation, transmission or distribution. Even imported items used in projects are being scrutinised, because anyone can attempt cyberattacks.' Aggam Walia is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, reporting on power, renewables, and mining. His work unpacks intricate ties between corporations, government, and policy, often relying on documents sourced via the RTI Act. Off the beat, he enjoys running through Delhi's parks and forests, walking to places, and cooking pasta. ... Read More
