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AI FactCheck

Fact Check: Viral image claiming to showing workers rescued from Silkyara tunnel is AI-generated

The 4.5-km long Silkyara tunnel is a part of the Chardham project in Uttarakhand. The project aims to provide all-weather connectivity between four Hindu shrines. On November 12, 2023, a landslide caused a portion of the tunnel to collapse and 41 workers were trapped inside.

By 30 Nov 2023 10:30 AM GMT
SilkYatra Tunnel, Chardham Yatra, workers in tunnel, holding indian flag, Rescue team, uttarakhand

  • Claim :

    The viral image shows workers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand

  • Fact :

    The image is an AI generated one and does not show the real image of the rescued workers


The 4.5-km long Silkyara tunnel is a part of the Chardham project in Uttarakhand. The project aims to provide all-weather connectivity between four Hindu shrines. On November 12, 2023, a landslide caused a portion of the tunnel to collapse and 41 workers were trapped inside. They survived on the food and oxygen supplied through narrow steel pipes.

After incessant effort, rescuers were able to free the workers after 17 days. The news of the rescue was received by all sections of the people in the country with great joy.

An image is in wide circulation in relation to this tunnel rescue, claiming that it shows the rescued workers with the Indian flag. This image has been shared by several main news publications.

On social media also, the image is in wide circulation with a caption: “Pic of the Day..!!! Uttarakhand tunnel rescue Mission finally successful Om Namah Shivaya “.





Fact Check:

The claim is False. The image does not show rescued workers, the image is an AI-generated one.

When observed carefully, we can see discrepancies in the image. The hand holding the Indian flag seems to have 5 fingers along with a thumb. The fingers on the other hand also are not consistent. There are also several inconsistencies in the eyes of the persons standing behind.

Using Hive moderation , when we verified the image, we found that the results showed that the image is 99% AI.




When searched further, we found the viral image was published on X (Twitter) by @Exclusive Minds which posted several AI-generated images on the tunnel rescue operation.


On one of their images, we can see the disclaimer stating that it is an AI-generated image.
A video report published by News18.com on its X (Twitter) account shows the original footage of the rescued workers posing for the camera. The caption of the video is “12 rat miners from Jhansi, relentlessly dug their way to 41 trapped workers in just 27 hours.”


Hence, the viral image does not show the rescued workers from the tunnel which collapsed in Uttarakhand. The claim is False.

Claim :   The viral image shows rescued workers who were trapped in the tunnel in Uttarakhand
Claimed By :  Social media and mainstream media users
Claim Reviewed By :  Telugupost Fact Check
Claim Source :  Social media and mainstream media
Fact Check :  False
News Summary - Fact Check: Viral image claiming to showing workers rescued from Silkyara tunnel is AI-generated
Subhash

Satya Priya BN

Priya BN is a seasoned Content and Digital Manager with over 7 years of experience in press, electronic, and digital media. A trained fact checker with 4+ years of experience, she has worked with organizations like Newsmeter.in, BBC World Service, and Telugupost.com. Satya is also a Google News Initiative and BBC Young Reporter India trainer, specializing in fact-checking, misinformation, and media literacy. She has led workshops for journalists, media students, and school communities, and co-authored a Telugu-language fact-check manual. Currently, she serves as the Fact Check Lead at Telugupost.com.
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