Image source, Nepal Army/Handout via REUTERS
Search and rescue operations continue in areas affected by floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers. Meanwhile, since Saturday, videos have emerged on social media suggesting some people might still be trapped around the Ghattekhola area in Rasuwa.
Following this, many expressed concern about the current situation in Ghattekhola and whether people there have been successfully rescued.
Emergency officials analyzing the situation indicated that some of these reports allege that people who fled during the floods are stranded in the forest areas.
“We have also received such information; therefore, helicopters and drones continue to focus on that area,” said Phanindra Prasad Paudel, head of the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in a conversation on Monday.
“Security personnel conducted surveillance over forested areas; we kept a helicopter monitoring for 19 minutes and also used drones, but no individuals were found there.”
According to officials, many of these videos that emerged on social media within two to three days after the flood are still widely shared.
There Are Many Such Incidents
Image source, RSS
Officials from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority say that misinformation negatively impacts the limited resources and equipment being used for rescue operations.
“Resources and equipment could be used in areas where genuine rescue is needed,” said Shanti Mahat, spokesperson for the authority.
“There are many instances of searching via helicopter. According to army officials, in one location where reports said about 500 people were stranded, only one person was found.”
“Sometimes despite repeated reconnaissance, no people are found. These cases occur especially in high-altitude areas including Rasuwa Gadhi,” she added.
Why Does Misinformation Spread?
Image source, RSS
Initially, those who made the videos may have shared information cautiously or out of concern, but prolonged circulation turns these into misleading information.
“It is not unusual for misinformation to spread during disasters; it has happened in the past as well,” says Deepak Adhikari, editor of Nepal Check, a fact-checking organization.
“Misinformation spreads most frequently during political violence, protests, airplane crashes, and natural disasters.”
“At the start of natural disasters, there is often an information vacuum. Over time, this shifts to information overload, which is the current stage.”
“It has been a week since the floods. When people believe such videos, it becomes easier for them to reach those places. Even if people are found, the repeated sharing of old videos creates panic,” Adhikari explained.
Controversy Over Misleading Photos and Videos
Alongside images of floods, misleading videos related to rescue also have been spreading.
“Some videos are generated via artificial intelligence (AI), while others originate from different countries,” said officials from Nepal Check. “For example, a video from another country was reported as a tunnel rescue involving Home Minister Sudhan Gurung.”
“After the flood news emerged, a video from Vietnam of a child carrying another on his back circulated, but it has been confirmed that this video is not from Nepal.”
Similarly, videos resembling rescue operations inside tunnels of various hydropower projects in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli corridor circulated widely on social media, mimicking actual footage shared by the Nepal Army.
“Many share videos without verifying their authenticity. Posting videos without full information prevents complete truth from emerging,” Nepal Check officials said. “Most of this is done for ‘monetization’.”
“Some have suggested temporarily suspending ‘monetization’ for a few days.”
Monitoring of Social Media
Considering the high risk of misinformation spreading rapidly on social media during the floods, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, formed a dedicated cluster to monitor social media immediately following the floods.
Vijay Kumar Roy from Nepal Telecommunications Authority, who heads this cluster, said many misleading videos have not penetrated the platforms deeply.
“We focus on removing extremely distressing videos that could damage mental health and on issues with pending complaints.”
The cluster includes representatives from the Telecommunications Authority, Press Council, Nepal Police Cyber Bureau, Security Center, and the Ministry of Communications.
Experts note that controlling misleading content on social media is more challenging than on registered media outlets.
The Press Council Nepal is responsible for regulating and monitoring communication media.
“However, most misinformation arises from social media rather than mainstream media,” said Ramsharan Bohara, deputy spokesperson of the Council.
During the initial phase of the flood, some social media posts claimed that water was released from an artificial dam in China. The Chinese Embassy has refuted such rumors and unverified claims.
Some Indian media outlets reportedly continue to circulate such claims.
“Immediately after an event, reliable information is scarce, but people need quick updates. As credible information flows in, clarity improves,” explained Nepal Check officials.
Misinformation Accompanied by Fraud
After the government arranged for interested donors to contribute to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, some individuals attempted to misuse this by conducting ‘phishing’ scams, according to cluster head Roy.
“There have also been incidents where individuals shared their own QR codes fraudulently in the name of the relief fund. We have raised public awareness through SMS about this.”
“Before sending financial support, confirm whether the account number, QR code, or link is official,” the collective SMS from the council advises.
“The campaign has had positive effects. We sent the message on Sunday, and since then, there have been no significant reports of fraud,” Roy told on Wednesday.
“No complaints about other misleading content have been received yet, but if they arise, we will investigate.”
Verify Before Sharing
Experts caution that spreading false information during disasters increases fear and confusion and can obstruct rescue and relief efforts. It risks leading people to make poor decisions and puts them in further danger.
“Information should not be posted or shared on social media without verifying its source,” said Nepal Check officials. “This is a responsibility for all of us.”
“Security agencies and disaster authorities are performing necessary tasks, but unfortunately, there is no centralized information system. For example, different figures for missing persons appear even on official government web portals.”
“If such systems were available, people could access information based on them,” they added.
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