Old Images From Pak Used Again As ‘Proof’ of Balakot Air Strike

The photos are from a heat wave that hit Pakistan in 2015 leading to several deaths.

Old images are being circulated as ‘proof’ of Balakot air strike

(Photo Altered By: The Quint)

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Right since the Indian Air Force conducted an air strike in Balakot in Pakistan, a number of videos and pictures have gone viral claiming to be from the site of the air strike.

The Quint recently came across another set of pictures claiming to be ‘proof’ of the strike. However, the images are old and completely unrelated.

CLAIM

The set of pictures are being circulated on messaging platforms like WhatsApp.

Screengrab of WhatsApp mesage(Photo Courtesy: WhatsApp)

The images include two pictures showing several dead bodies, in what appears to be a morgue and a burial site. Another picture shows a couple of satellite images claiming to show the effect of the strike.

Photos received on WhatsApp

Photos received on WhatsApp

Photos received on WhatsApp

Photos received on WhatsApp

TRUE OR FALSE

The message makes false claims. The Quint could establish that the images are old and nowhere related to the Balakot air strike.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT

A reverse image search revealed that they are photos from a 2015 heat wave in Pakistan, which led to the death of several people.

The first picture had been used by a website called Pakistan Ka Khuda Hafiz, in its report on the heat wave.

(Photo Courtesy: Pakistan Ka Khuda Hafiz)

Reverse image search of the second picture led to an International Business Times report.

(Photo Courtesy: International Business Times)

As for the fourth picture, The Guardian had used it in its report.

(Photo Courtesy: The Guardian)

As for the satellite image, The Quint could not locate the source of the image. However, a number of such comparisons have been doing the rounds since the strike. No official confirmation has yet come through from the government or the Air Force about any of thee satellite images.

Different media organisations have made contrasting claims on the extent of damage that the air strike inflicted.

On 6 March, news agency Reuters reported, showing satellite images, that buildings at the site of the strike are still standing there.

However, reports by NDTV and India Today suggest 'internal damage’ and ‘bomb entry points on the roof’ in the building.

Not the First Such Claim

Earlier too, several pictures got circulated on WhatsApp claiming to belong to the site of the strikes at terrorist camps. However, The Quint could establish that they were old images of incidents of bombings and earthquake.

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