Fact Check: Rama Setu revealed by deep-sea divers? No, viral video is AI-generated

Hyderabad: Videos showing scuba divers exploring submerged ruins with inscriptions have gone viral on social media, with the claim that the ruins show Rama Setu—a now-submerged chain of shoals and corals connecting Tamil Nadu’s Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka’s Mannar Island, holding deep religious significance for Hindus.

The viral Instagram reel, which has garnered significant attention, shows captivating visuals of an underwater city with detailed architecture, inscriptions and a colossal Hanuman statue. Shared widely, it leads viewers to believe it captures genuine footage of Rama Setu, with some users even linking it to the lost city of Dwarka. (Archive)

The Instagram reel was shared with captions such as “Ram Setu Revealed! Real underwater visuals of the ancient bridge!” Some posts included dramatic descriptions of ancient stone formations and Sanskrit carvings discovered beneath the sea. (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video is AI-generated and does not show real footage of Rama Setu.

To verify the claim, NewsMeter first analysed the video for authenticity. The imagery appeared highly polished, with uniform lighting and intricate details lacking the typical imperfections of real underwater footage, such as marine life, sediment or natural lighting variations. These characteristics raised suspicions that the video might be computer-generated.

We ran the video through Hive Moderation, an AI detection tool, which returned an aggregated score of 90 per cent, indicating a high likelihood that the video is AI-generated.

Further, a reverse image search of keyframes from the reel led us to an Instagram post by a verified account, jayprints, shared on April 6, 2025.

The post’s caption read, “Ram Setu Reimagined: A Sacred Bridge Beneath the Waves Dive into the blue depths where myth meets marine archaeology as we explore the submerged remains of Ram Setu - the legendary bridge built by Lord Rama’s Vanara army to cross to Lanka. From ancient stone formations to uncovered Sanskrit carvings and a colossal Hanuman statue resting in silence beneath the sea… this underwater journey is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Crafted with love by @jayprints Note: All visuals shown here are AI-generated and meant purely for artistic and educational purposes. We deeply respect all beliefs and traditions - this reel is intended to inspire wonder, not offend.”

The account’s bio identified jayprints as an ‘AI Artist and Photographer,’ and similar AI-generated videos were found on their page. The post clearly stated that the visuals were AI-generated, intended for artistic purposes and not real footage.

Hence, we conclude that the claim is false. An AI-generated video showing an underwater city with ruins and inscriptions has been falsely linked to Rama Setu.