Old video shared as recent attack on Kumbh Mela travellers
The Maha Kumbh Mela has commenced in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, drawing devotees and visitors from across the country. Media reported (here and here) a stone-pelting incident targeting a train carrying Kumbh Mela attendees in Maharashtra. Amid this, a video (here, here and here) has surfaced on social media claiming to show a train being attacked with stones while en route to the Kumbh Mela. The video, reportedly recorded by a passenger, shows individuals outside the train pelting stones at it. Let’s uncover the truth behind this video. Claim: The viral video shows a stone-pelting incident targeting Kumbh Mela travellers from Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Fact: The viral video showing a mob targeting the Bhusawal-Nandurbar passenger train in Jalgaon is from 12 July 2024. This incident has no connection to the Kumbh Mela, which began on 13 January 2025. There are, however, reports of a stone-pelting incident from 12 January 2025, involving the Tapti Ganga Express in Jalgaon, which was carrying Kumbh Mela travellers. Therefore, the claim is MISLEADING. To verify the truth behind the viral video, we performed a reverse image search using a screenshot from the video. This led us to an Instagram post by the page “The Trending Indian,” where the same video was shared on 14 July 2024. The post’s headline states, “Train between Jalgaon and Nandurbar targeted by stone-pelting mob in Maharashtra.” The description further specifies that the incident occurred on the Bhusawal-Nandurbar passenger train on 12 July 2024. Further investigation led us to the TV9 Marathi YouTube channel, which also reported the same video on 13 July 2024. According to these reports, a passenger train travelling from Bhusawal to Nandurbar was targeted with stones in Jalgaon after being stopped due to chain-pulling. This incident reportedly occurred on 12 July 2024. Further research into the incident led us to several reports (here, here and here) confirming that on 12 July 2024, a mob pelted stones at the Bhusawal-Nandurbar passenger train in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, causing panic among passengers. According to the report, a viral video captured the event, showing around 25 individuals throwing stones at the train as terrified passengers screamed and attempted to flee. Following the incident, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched an investigation and filed a case under Railway Act 154. No formal complaints have been filed, and no injuries were reported. The motive behind the stone-pelting remains unclear. Meanwhile, on 12 January 2025, a stone pelting incident was reported near Jalgaon station in Maharashtra (here and here). According to the Indian Express, an unknown person threw a stone at a train en route to Uttar Pradesh carrying passengers to the Kumbh Mela. The stone cracked a window but caused no injuries. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) conducted an investigation, with the complaint filed by the ticket checker at Jalgaon. An offence under the Railway Act was registered, and the probe is ongoing. However, the viral video has no connection with the Maha Kumbh Mela and the recent stone pelting incident as it is from July 2024, much before the Kumbh Mela started. To sum up, an old 2024 video of a train stone-pelting incident has been shared as a recent attack on Kumbh Mela travellers. (This article was first posted by Factly and re-shared by Deccan Chronicle as part of the Shakti Collective Fact Check initiative.)
The Maha Kumbh Mela has commenced in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, drawing devotees and visitors from across the country. Media reported (here and here) a stone-pelting incident targeting a train carrying Kumbh Mela attendees in Maharashtra. Amid this, a video (here, here and here) has surfaced on social media claiming to show a train being attacked with stones while en route to the Kumbh Mela. The video, reportedly recorded by a passenger, shows individuals outside the train pelting stones at it. Let’s uncover the truth behind this video.
Claim: The viral video shows a stone-pelting incident targeting Kumbh Mela travellers from Jalgaon, Maharashtra.
Fact: The viral video showing a mob targeting the Bhusawal-Nandurbar passenger train in Jalgaon is from 12 July 2024. This incident has no connection to the Kumbh Mela, which began on 13 January 2025. There are, however, reports of a stone-pelting incident from 12 January 2025, involving the Tapti Ganga Express in Jalgaon, which was carrying Kumbh Mela travellers. Therefore, the claim is MISLEADING.
To verify the truth behind the viral video, we performed a reverse image search using a screenshot from the video. This led us to an Instagram post by the page “The Trending Indian,” where the same video was shared on 14 July 2024. The post’s headline states, “Train between Jalgaon and Nandurbar targeted by stone-pelting mob in Maharashtra.” The description further specifies that the incident occurred on the Bhusawal-Nandurbar passenger train on 12 July 2024.
Further investigation led us to the TV9 Marathi YouTube channel, which also reported the same video on 13 July 2024. According to these reports, a passenger train travelling from Bhusawal to Nandurbar was targeted with stones in Jalgaon after being stopped due to chain-pulling. This incident reportedly occurred on 12 July 2024.
Further research into the incident led us to several reports (here, here and here) confirming that on 12 July 2024, a mob pelted stones at the Bhusawal-Nandurbar passenger train in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, causing panic among passengers. According to the report, a viral video captured the event, showing around 25 individuals throwing stones at the train as terrified passengers screamed and attempted to flee. Following the incident, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched an investigation and filed a case under Railway Act 154. No formal complaints have been filed, and no injuries were reported. The motive behind the stone-pelting remains unclear.
Meanwhile, on 12 January 2025, a stone pelting incident was reported near Jalgaon station in Maharashtra (here and here). According to the Indian Express, an unknown person threw a stone at a train en route to Uttar Pradesh carrying passengers to the Kumbh Mela. The stone cracked a window but caused no injuries. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) conducted an investigation, with the complaint filed by the ticket checker at Jalgaon. An offence under the Railway Act was registered, and the probe is ongoing. However, the viral video has no connection with the Maha Kumbh Mela and the recent stone pelting incident as it is from July 2024, much before the Kumbh Mela started.
To sum up, an old 2024 video of a train stone-pelting incident has been shared as a recent attack on Kumbh Mela travellers.
(This article was first posted by Factly and re-shared by Deccan Chronicle as part of the Shakti Collective Fact Check initiative.)
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