Misinformation Linking Mahakumbh to Bangladesh Train Fire: Police Take Action Against 34 Social Media Accounts

Prayagraj, February 22 – The Uttar Pradesh Police and Kumbh Mela Police have taken strict action against 34 social media accounts for spreading misleading information by linking an old train fire incident in Bangladesh to the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.

False Claims Spark Confusion

Social media monitoring teams discovered that on February 22, 2025, several accounts circulated a video from 2022 showing a fire on the Parbat Express train in Bangladesh. These posts falsely claimed that a train headed for Mahakumbh had caught fire on February 14, 2025, resulting in the deaths of 300 passengers. Upon investigation, the police confirmed that the video was unrelated to Mahakumbh and originated from an old incident in Bangladesh. The Uttar Pradesh Police and Kumbh Mela Police promptly issued a clarification on social media to debunk the misinformation.

Legal Action Against 34 Accounts

Following the investigation, the Kumbh Mela Police registered FIRs against 34 social media accounts responsible for spreading the fake news. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the identified individuals.

Notable Accounts Spreading Misinformation

Authorities identified several YouTube and Instagram accounts involved in disseminating the false claims.

• YouTube: Gk_everyday, Niraj Das, Bindiya Devi, Balma Bihar Wala, Vikas Patel, and others.
• Instagram: Ajay Choudhary, abha_jaanu_01, Mahesh Kashoodhan, Brijesh Singh Yadav, Aman Nishad, among others.

171 Social Media Accounts Under Scrutiny

So far, the authorities have taken action in 12 different cases, resulting in FIRs against 171 social media accounts for spreading misinformation related to Mahakumbh 2025.

Strict Warning from the Administration

The Kumbh Mela Police have issued a stern warning, stating that stringent action will continue against those spreading fake news. They have urged devotees to rely only on official sources for information and to refrain from believing or sharing unverified content.

The administration remains vigilant in ensuring that Mahakumbh 2025 remains free from misinformation and unnecessary panic.