Video of Orissa’s bus accident falsely shared as victims from Bengal’s Birbhum violence incident.

The video shows an accident from Orissa when a bus caught fire after coming in contact an overhead power transmission wire in 2020. The video has no relation with the political violence in Bengal.

On 22 March, six women and two children, were burnt to death in the violence that erupted at Baktui village in West Bengal’s Birbhum district following the murder of a deputy pradhan of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Several houses were set on fire after the murder and seven charred bodies recovered from one house alone, reported the Hindu.

Followed by this incident, a video showing a group of children and women lying on ground with burn injuries is circulating on social media with the claim that 12 houses in Rampurhat were locked and burnt alive after the assassination of the TMC leader in Bengal.

The caption of the post reads, “Those who have not seen Kashmir should see Bengal. After the assassination of the TMC leader, 12 houses in Rampurhat were locked and burnt alive.”

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Fact Check-

We started our investigation by carefully observing the viral video where we saw the injured people lying beside a bus. We can see the name “www.djgaddi.in” written on the bus.

We searched for this bus service and found the website of “DJ Gaddi” which stated that they are working for Odisha as step up stone to have a Digital Odisha and to have a top state having all digital users. The website reads, “As we are operating only in Odisha, we promise, you will get the best services with the lowest price from us till the sun and moon are there.”

Keeping this information in mind, we ran a keyword search on YouTube whose results led us to a report published by Kanak News on 9 February 2020 with the caption, “Bus Catches Fire when contact with 11KV Wire In Berhampur.”

Odisha TV posted a news report on this incident on 9 February 2020 with the caption, “Ganjam Bus Mishap- 5 Die, Over 35 injured.” According to a news report published by the Times of India, “nine people were killed and over 35 suffered injuries when a bus caught fire after coming in contact with an overhead power transmission line near Golanthara in Odisha’s Ganjam district.”

Police said, “The Chikarada-bound bus coming from Jangalpadu came in contact with an 11 KV power transmission line, resulting in the casualties,”

The injured were admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

This incident was also reported by ANI stating “Odisha: At least 6 persons dead and around 40 passengers injured after the bus they were travelling in caught fire after coming in contact with 11 KV live electric wire in Ganjam district, Brahmapur. Injured persons have been sent to MKCG Medical College and Hospital.”

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Conclusion–

Fact Crescendo found the claim made along with the viral video on social media to be False. The video does not show victims from Bengal’s Birbhum violence. The video shows an accident from Orissa where a bus caught fire after coming in contact an overhead power transmission wire in 2020. The video has no relation with Bengal.

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