Devastating floods in Assam began around July 19–20 after days of incessant rainfall and cloudburst-induced flooding in neighbouring hill regions caused major rivers to overflow.
Since then, the disaster has spread across multiple districts, claiming 78 lives and affecting over 3 lakh people. Although water levels have started receding, thousands remain displaced as damaged homes, blocked roads and disrupted infrastructure continue to hamper relief and rehabilitation efforts.
In the above context, a video is being widely shared on social media in which a multi-storey building is collapsing and being swept away by raging floodwaters. The footage shows an entire complex crumbling into the water.
The video is shared with a caption suggesting that it shows a shopping complex being swept away during the recent floods in Assam.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “Assam Floods: Over 9 Lakh Affected Across 25 Districts, 41 Dead.”
SouthCheck found that the claim is misleading. The video is from Jammu and Kashmir.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same video was shared by the YouTube channel of ABP News on July 21. The video identified the location as Beerwah in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, where a shopping complex was swept away by floodwaters.
The caption read, “A horrific scene has emerged from the Beerwah area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, where a massive flood in the Sukhnag drain, following heavy rains in the upper reaches, has caused widespread devastation. The flow of water was so strong and ferocious that an entire shopping complex on the banks collapsed like a house of cards within minutes, swept away by the torrent.”
The video was also shared by the Instagram handle of DD News Srinagar on July 21. The caption read, “Dozens of shops were swept away after the swollen Sukhnag Nallah washed away the Municipal Shopping Complex in Beerwah, Budgam. No casualties were reported as advance weather warnings allowed traders to evacuate in time.”
Moreover, The Times of India also shared the video on its website on July 21.
The report associated with the video suggests that heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides across Jammu and Kashmir, causing widespread destruction, particularly in Budgam district. A viral video showed a shopping complex being swept away by raging floodwaters in Beerwah, highlighting the disaster’s intensity. The floods have damaged infrastructure, disrupted normal life, and prompted rescue and relief operations, while authorities continue to assess losses and restore essential services.
Hence, we can ascertain that the viral claim is misleading.