Recently a video of a ropeway gondola swaying heavily went viral on social media. Sharing the video, users claimed that the video shows the newly constructed ropeway in Varanasi. We came across the video on Facebook with the caption, “This is the new ropeway made at the cost of Rs 815 crore in Banaras. Hawa ka jhonka is making it swivel so badly. Total distance of ropeway is 3.85kms and Imagine the condition of people travelling in it. You will be dying every minute out of fear.”
However, as we investigated, we came to know that the claim was misleading. The authorities said that it was a part of safety testing and no passenger was in the gondola. Here’s the fact check.
Fact Check
We started our investigation by taking screenshots from the viral video and conducting a reverse image search. This led us to an Instagram post on the official Instagram handle of PIB Fact Check.
The caption of the post read, “A video of a swinging Varanasi Ropeway gondola is being shared on social media with claims suggesting excessive and unsafe movement
#PIBFactCheck
❌ This claim is #Misleading
✅ The swing observed in the video is part of the testing process to ensure safety norms compliance.
✅The swing/sway observed in the circulated video is within the permissible limits specified under the CEN standards and is duly accounted for in the system design
✅ The Gondolas have been applied with emergency brakes during testing carried out by the OEM team to check the maximum longitudinal sway as per permissible limit
✅ These sway/swing movements are controlled and absorbed by the spring-loaded support arrangement of the gondola and are minimized within the limits specified in the applicable codes and standards, including CEN and BIS
✅ The provision of flexibility in the suspension system is intentional and essential to accommodate dynamic operational forces, wind loads, and acceleration–deceleration effects during normal operation and stoppage of the ropeway.
✅The swing of the Gondola does not indicate any structural, mechanical or operational deficiency and is to ensure checks for safety of passengers in all conditions during operations”
Moreover, the National Highways Logistics Management Limited on their official X handle tweeted on 6 January 2026 stating the video to be misleading.
A report published on NDTV can be read here.
This makes it clear that the swing observed in the video is part of the testing process to ensure safety norms compliance.
Conclusion
From our investigation, we can say that the claim is misleading. The viral video of a gondola swaying heavily in Varanasi is a part of the testing process to ensure safety norms compliance.
Title:Video Of Varanasi Ropeway Going Viral With A Misleading Claim.
Fact Check By: Debanjana BaishyaResult: Misleading
