Old videos of overcrowded trains falsely linked to UP PET 2022 exam
Social media users and political leaders have shared old videos with the claim that students travelled in overcrowded trains to appear for the competitive exam.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 17 Oct 2022 1:43 PM GMT
Hyderabad: Multiple videos of a mad rush and overcrowded trains are circulating on social media with the claim that they show students travelling to take the Uttar Pradesh Preliminary Eligibility Test (UP PET) 2022.
The test was conducted on 15 and 16 October in two shifts—from 10 a.m to 12 p.m and from 3 p.m to 5 p.m. Media shared visuals of thousands of candidates making their way to the exam centers in packed trains.
However, social media users and political leaders have shared old videos with the claim that students travelled in overcrowded trains to appear for the competitive exam.
In this fact-checking article, we will verify three videos.
In the first video, a huge number of people are seen trying to board two trains.
In the second video, people can be seen hanging on the doors of a packed running train.
In the third video, people can be seen hanging on the doors and sitting on the roof of an overcrowded train.
Fact Check
Video 1
We performed a reverse image search of the first video's keyframe and found the original video on YouTube. It was uploaded in 2016 and was titled "Amazing Mumbai local crowd."
Video 2
After performing a reverse image of the second video's keyframe, we found it on YouTube. It was uploaded on 27 February 2018. The title of the video suggested it was from Patna, Bihar.
NewsMeter couldn't verify the exact location and years the two videos were taken, but we found that the videos are old and predate the UP PET 2022 exam.
The fact-check Twitter handle of the UP government called out Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for sharing the videos and falsely linking them to UP PET 2022.
Video 3
On conducting a reverse image search of the third video's keyframe, we found a similar visual in a video uploaded in 2018 on YouTube. According to the description, the video is from Bangladesh and it shows a packed train during the occasion of Eid.
We can conclude that all three videos are old and not related to UP PET 2022 exam conducted on 15 and 16 October. Hence, the claims are false.
