Find a viral news story or social media post that was later debunked as fake news. Use online fact-checking tools (e.g., Alt News, Google Reverse Image Search) to verify the credibility of the information. Write a report on your fact-checking process.

Fact-Checking Report: The Fake Image of a “Flooded Taj Mahal”

Introduction

In July 2023, during heavy monsoon rainfall across North India, a viral image circulated on Twitter and Facebook showing the iconic Taj Mahal allegedly flooded up to its base. The image was widely shared with captions like “Yamuna flooding has reached the Taj Mahal’s feet” and was picked up by several influencers and smaller news pages.

Step 1: Observing Red Flags

• The image appeared overly dramatic with water almost reaching the marble plinth.
• None of the major national news channels or agencies had published such visuals.
• The source was a screenshot of a tweet with no citation of the original photographer.

Step 2: Reverse Image Search

• I used Google Reverse Image Search by uploading the image.
• Results showed that the image had been in circulation since 2010 — reused during every major flood or monsoon season in India.
• The image was traced to a photoshopped version originally shared as a meme on Reddit in 2010.

Step 3: Cross-verifying with Fact-checking Websites

• Alt News published a report titled “No, the Taj Mahal is not flooded — viral image is photoshopped.”
• BOOM FactCheck also confirmed that the viral image had been manipulated and clarified that while the Yamuna water level was high, it had not breached the Taj Mahal’s boundary wall.

Step 4: Official Sources Confirmation

• Press Information Bureau (PIB) also tweeted a clarification that the Taj Mahal was safe and that ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) had taken preventive steps.
• Drone footage shared by ANI News confirmed that the premises were dry, though the Yamuna was flowing closer than usual.

Why It Went Viral

• The image played on visual shock value and people’s emotions around heritage and natural disasters.
• Accounts with political biases used it to criticize government disaster preparedness.
• The lack of media literacy among users led many to share it without verifying.

Conclusion

This case highlights the importance of digital literacy and responsible sharing. A simple reverse image search can prevent the spread of misinformation. As future journalists, it is crucial to verify every piece of content—especially viral posts—using reliable tools like Alt News, Boom Live, Factly, and government handles.

Lesson: Don’t trust your eyes on social media. Trust the facts you can verify.