The West Bengal Assembly Election results were declared on May 4. The BJP won a landslide, around 206 of 293 seats, while the TMC fell to about 80. Polling saw sporadic violence, including clashes and intimidation allegations, but no deaths were reported. Post-results, tensions rose, with the TMC alleging rigging and widespread violence.
In the above context, a video is being widely shared on social media in which shops with flags of TMC are seen burning while some people are carrying away logs of wood. A fire engine can also be seen trying to control the situation.
The video is shared with a caption suggesting that after the BJP won the election in WB, their workers vandalised the houses associated with TMC workers.
A social media user shared the video and wrote, “After the BJP’s victory in West Bengal, BJP leaders and activists have set fire to Trinamool Congress houses, businesses and businesses of most Muslims in various cities one after the other. #BJP_Victory #india #WestBengalUpdate #ConditionofMuslimsinWestBengal #BJP #WestBengalMuslims” (Translated from Bengali)
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The viral video is from April, when a fire broke out at Akra Railway Station in West Bengal. It is not related to the West Bengal election results.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same video was shared by an Instagram user on April 26. The text embedded in the video reads, ‘Metiabzur Rail Line’ and the caption reads, “Again massive fire incident in Metiabruz”
We searched with relevant keywords and found that a similar video was shared by News18 Bangla on April 25, with a caption that reads, “Akra Railway Station Incident: Terrible fire in slum near Akra station.”
We compared the viral video with the original video and found them to be from the same place. We can see the same blue billboard with Pepsi written on it, right beside the flag of the Trinamool Congress.
Moreover, we can see the same yellow building on the left side.
Thus, the social media posts confirmed that the visuals are of Akara Railway Station.
Moreover, we found that the incident was also reported by Anand Bazar on April 25. According to the report, A massive fire broke out in a slum near Akra–Santoshpur, disrupting train services on the Sealdah South section. Rail movement was halted or delayed as flames and smoke spread close to the tracks. Fire engines rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control, with no immediate reports of casualties.
Hence, we can ascertain that the viral claim is false.
