Fake flooding pic on social media: Chandigarh airport seeks probe
Mohali cyber cell inspector Charanjeev Lamba said it is hard to find the source since the picture was circulated through WhatsApp and Twitter.
After pictures of a flooded Chennai airport from December 2015 were circulated as those of the Chandigarh International Airport following the last Thursday’s heavy rain in the tricity, the local airport authorities have approached the Mohali police to investigate their source.
The complaint that was moved three days ago at the police station attached with the airport also sought action against a vernacular daily for carrying the picture and defaming the city airport’s reputation. Inspector HS Bal said the newspaper staff has been called on Wednesday to seek their explanation.
“We will also seek help from the cyber cell to find the source of the pictures on social media for taking necessary legal action,” he said. Mohali cyber cell inspector Charanjeev Lamba said it is hard to find the source since the picture was circulated through WhatsApp and Twitter. “But we will try our level best, if our help is sought,” he said.
The tricity received 121mm rain last Thursday, leading to waterlogging in many areas. Soon after, people started sharing images of a waterlogged airport on social media. The picture also caused major embarrassment to a Delhi-based news agency that released it, claiming it to be of a flooded Ahmedabad airport.
It was later discovered that the images were of the Chennai airport taken in December 2015, following two days of heavy rains there. Union minister Smriti Irani also tweeted about it, alerting Twitter users and news establishments about the actual source.
A senior official of the Chandigarh airport said people should check the authenticity of images before sharing them, as it can cause harm to institutes involved.
