#FactCheck: Viral Video of Storm Destruction in Odisha Is Actually From Telangana
Executive Summary
A ‘deep depression’ formed over the Bay of Bengal made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts in late September 2026, affecting several districts. A video is going viral on social media in connection with the weather system, purportedly showing its impact. Some users are sharing the video claiming that it shows the effects of the storm in Odisha. CyberPeace Research fact-checked the viral claim and found that the impact of the storm was reported in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh. However, the viral video showing the destruction caused by the storm is actually from Bhadradri Kothagudem in Telangana.
Claim
Instagram user ‘deepak_.pandey900’ posted a video on September 24, 2026, along with an archive link, claiming that “Cyclone Arnab, which formed over the Bay of Bengal, made landfall along the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts between 11 pm and 1 am. Heavy rainfall is occurring in the coastal districts of both states due to its impact. Schools have been closed in 10 districts of southern Odisha, and around 5,000 people have been shifted to safer locations. Traffic was disrupted after four bridges in Malkangiri were submerged, and the National Highway was also closed as a precautionary measure. Strong winds caused 10 fishing boats to sink and dozens of others to be damaged in Bhadrak.”
https://www.instagram.com/deepak_.pandey900/reel/DdrZwOaBYjd
Fact Check
To verify the viral claim, we first conducted a Google Lens search using keyframes extracted from the video. X user ‘Telangana365’ shared the video on September 23, 2026, with the caption: “The ‘Arnab cyclone’ has caused massive destruction in Morampalli Banjara of Burgampadu mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. The situation is such that it is difficult to understand what is happening. It is completely dark, with heavy dust and dark clouds all around. According to the victims, they witnessed a terrifying scene. Strong winds uprooted trees and blew away thatched roofs... people were even thrown some distance by the gusts of wind. Fortunately, they suffered only minor injuries.”
https://x.com/Telangana365/status/2102743504715907406?s=20
The video was also posted on the YouTube channel ‘TV2_NEWS’ on September 23, 2026, identifying it as footage from Burgampadu mandal in Telangana.
A report published on the website of Telangana-based news portal ‘Big TV’ on September 24, 2026, used a keyframe from the video. According to the report, “Cyclone Arnab, which formed over the Bay of Bengal, has caused widespread destruction. Its impact has been felt not only in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh but also significantly in Telangana. The cyclone caused destruction in Bhadradri Kothagudem district soon after crossing the coast. It suddenly wreaked havoc in Morampalli Banjara of Burgampadu mandal. Heavy rainfall and strong winds engulfed the area. Several people were injured during the incident.”
According to information shared by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on its X handle at around 9 am on September 25, 2026, “The Deep Depression over south Odisha and adjoining south Chhattisgarh moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 15 kmph during the past six hours. It weakened into a Depression and lay centred at 5:30 am on September 25, 2026, over interior south Odisha and adjoining Chhattisgarh. It is very likely to continue moving north-northwestwards and maintain its intensity as a Depression for the next 12 hours. Thereafter, it is expected to weaken into a Well-Marked Low Pressure Area during the subsequent 12 hours.”
Conclusion:
The Deep Depression that formed over the Bay of Bengal caused heavy rainfall in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha. However, the viral video showing the destruction caused by the storm is actually from Telangana.
Related Blogs
Introduction
A recent massive scam has been uncovered in the Indian state of Gujarat, where the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has blacklisted 30,000 SIM cards that were used for illegal activities. The scam has created a huge uproar in the state, and its implications are significant. In this blog, we will discuss the details of the Gujarat scam and its impact on the state.
What is sim card fraud?
Sim card fraud occurs when someone uses a fake or cloned sim card to impersonate someone else. This allows the fraudster to gain access to sensitive information or conduct transactions on behalf of the victim. The use of fraudulent sim cards has become increasingly common in recent years, with scammers targeting individuals and businesses around the world.
The Gujarat Scam: The Gujarat scam involves the use of SIM cards for illegal activities such as extortion, blackmail, and cybercrime. The CID has identified that the SIM cards were obtained using fake documents and were used for illegal activities. The scam has been happening for a while, involving several individuals, including businessmen, politicians, and government officials.
The CID has conducted raids across the state and has arrested several individuals involved in the scam. They have also seized a significant amount of cash, mobile phones, and other electronic devices used for illegal activities. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are expected in the coming days.
The Gujarat scam is not an isolated incident, as similar scams have been reported in other parts of the country. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also reported that several telecom operators are not following the regulations and are not verifying the authenticity of documents used to obtain SIM cards.
Impact on the State: The Gujarat scam has caused significant damage to the state’s reputation, and it has also affected the economy. The scam has highlighted the lack of regulation in the telecom industry, and it has exposed the loopholes in the system that criminals are exploiting.
The blacklisting of 30,000 SIM cards will affect several individuals who may have obtained them legally but were unaware of their use for illegal activities. The blacklisting may also impact businesses that rely on mobile phones for their operations.
The scam has also raised concerns about personal information and data safety. With the use of fake documents to obtain SIM cards, it is evident that personal information is not secure and can be easily misused. The government needs to take steps to ensure that personal information is protected and that the telecom industry is regulated to prevent such scams from happening in the future.
Steps Taken by the Government: The Gujarat scam has prompted the government to take action to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. The government has announced that it will implement stricter regulations in the telecom industry to prevent the misuse of SIM cards. The government has also announced that it will introduce a system to verify the authenticity of documents used to obtain SIM cards.
The government has also urged citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to the misuse of SIM cards. The government has assured citizens that it will take strict action against those involved in the scam and that it will ensure the safety of personal information and data.
The TRAI has also taken steps to address the issue. It has directed telecom operators to verify the authenticity of documents used to obtain SIM cards and to follow the regulations. The TRAI has also introduced a new system to identify and deactivate inactive SIM cards.
Here are some key takeaways from the Gujarat Sim scam: These takeaways should be kept in mind to prevent such incidents from happening in the future and to ensure the safety of citizens and businesses.
Need for Stricter Regulations: The Gujarat Sim scam has highlighted the need for stricter regulations in the telecom industry. The government needs to ensure that telecom operators follow the regulations and verify the authenticity of documents used to obtain SIM cards. This will help prevent the misuse of SIM cards and illegal activities.
Importance of Personal Information Security: The scam has raised concerns about personal information and data safety. It is important to ensure that personal information is protected and that the telecom industry is regulated to prevent such scams from happening in the future.
Impact on Reputation and Economy: The Gujarat scam has caused significant damage to the state’s reputation, and it has also affected the economy. The blacklisting of 30,000 SIM cards will impact several individuals who may have obtained them legally but were unaware of their use for illegal activities. The scam has also raised concerns about the safety of businesses that rely on mobile phones for their operations.
Need for Vigilance: The government has urged citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to the misuse of SIM cards. It is important for citizens to be aware of the regulations and to report any illegal activities to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Strong Action Against Criminals: The blacklisting of 30,000 SIM cards and the arrests made by the CID sends a strong message to those involved in illegal activities that they will not be spared. It is important for the government to take strict action against those involved in the scam to deter others from engaging in such activities.
Conclusion
The Gujarat scam has exposed vulnerabilities in the telecom industry and highlighted the need for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. The blacklisting of 30,000 SIM cards has sent a strong message to those involved in illegal activities that they will not be spared. The government’s efforts to implement stricter regulations and ensure the safety of personal information and data are commendable. It is now up to the citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
The telecom industry plays a vital role in the country’s development, and it is important to ensure that it is regulated to prevent the misuse of its services. Overall, the Gujarat Sim scam has highlighted the need for stricter regulations, personal information security, vigilance, and strong action against criminals.
Reference:
Executive Summary
A video is being shared on social media showing a multi-storey building located beside what appears to be a river. A road runs alongside the building, with visible erosion and large cracks. A crowd of people can be seen standing near the edge of the road close to the building. Suddenly, the front portion of the building collapses into the water, followed moments later by the rear section tilting and falling into the river. As the building collapses, people are seen running in panic. The video is being shared with the claim that it shows a real incident in which a multi-storey building collapsed like a house of cards due to heavy rainfall, a swollen river, and severe erosion that also caused part of the road to cave in. CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found the viral claim to be false. Our research revealed that the video is not real. It was generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is being circulated with a false claim.
Claim
An Instagram user shared the viral video on July 15, 2026, claiming that it shows a multi-storey building collapsing into a swollen river due to heavy rainfall and strong water currents, while part of the adjacent road also collapsed because of a landslide.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DazTcrBCBrI/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we extracted several keyframes from the viral video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the research, we found no credible news reports, authentic videos, or reliable sources related to the incident. However, we found the same video uploaded on a YouTube Shorts channel named @mohammedalmekhlafiht1555. The channel's cover image describes the creator as an "AI & Automation Engineer." In addition, the descriptions of videos uploaded on the channel explicitly mention "Made With AI."
https://youtube.com/shorts/zFotETyAz8E?si=b6wj_eAG-nj7U1HE
We also carried out a detailed visual analysis of the footage. During the collapse, the front portion of the building falls into the water almost as a single block without breaking apart, which is highly unrealistic. After a brief pause, the rear section tilts and also falls almost intact onto the first section, without disintegrating despite the massive impact. The behaviour of people in the video also appears unnatural. Some individuals are seen running with their hands raised, while others inexplicably move toward the collapsing building and even jump into the water. Workers repairing the damaged road appear completely unaffected by the nearby collapse. In a real structural failure of this magnitude, buildings typically break apart into multiple sections, generating debris, dust, and strong shockwaves that would significantly affect nearby people.
In the next stage of our research, we analysed the video using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation, which indicated a 78.1% probability that the video was AI-generated.
For additional verification, we also examined the video using AI or Not, which concluded that the footage has a 96% probability of being AI-generated.
Finally, we analysed the video using Wasit.AI, which also indicated a 75% probability that the video had been created using Artificial Intelligence.
Conclusion
Our research found that the viral video does not depict a real incident. It was generated using Artificial Intelligence and is being shared on social media with a false and misleading claim that it shows a multi-storey building collapsing into a river due to heavy rainfall and erosion.
Executive Summary
A video of BJP MP Ravi Kishan is being widely circulated on social media with the claim that the Gorakhpur MP was mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and criticizing his working style and frequent foreign visits.In the viral clip, Ravi Kishan can be heard saying that “he likes to travel,” “comes to Parliament only for a few minutes,” and does not like pressure or responsibility. The clip also features him using phrases such as “azad panchhi” (free bird) and “azad parinda.” However, CyberPeace Research Wingresearch found the claim to be misleading. The research revealed that in the original video, Ravi Kishan was actually criticizing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. A cropped portion of his statement is being shared out of context with a false claim.
Claim
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared the viral clip and wrote that Ravi Kishan was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that Modi enjoys travelling abroad, spends little time in Parliament, and feels uncomfortable under pressure.
- https://x.com/Aarti202/status/2058523226305900586
- https://archive.ph/j5MaV
Fact Check
To verify the viral claim, we performed a reverse search using key frames from the video. During the research, we found the original video uploaded on the Facebook page of ANI on May 13, 2026.
The caption of the post read:“War does not seem to be ending…” Ravi Kishan warns the country about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.At around the 4-minute-40-second timestamp, an ANI reporter asks Ravi Kishan about Rahul Gandhi distancing himself from the CBI Director selection process. Responding to that question, Ravi Kishan makes the remarks that later went viral.
This clearly establishes that Ravi Kishan was not referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but was commenting on Rahul Gandhi. In his response, he says that “it is good that he has freed himself” and refers to Rahul Gandhi as an “azad parinda” (free bird).
During the research, we also found the same video posted on Ravi Kishan’s official X account on May 23. The caption of the post stated:“Congress should now free its prince Rahul Gandhi.”This further confirms that the viral clip has been misleadingly edited and shared out of context
Conclusion
The research found that Ravi Kishan’s remarks in the original video were directed at Rahul Gandhi, not Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An edited portion of the video has been falsely shared with a misleading claim.
