Fake video of train on Chenab Bridge goes viral

PDP terms it level of desperation

Jammu: A video of a fast moving train on a bridge in China suddenly went viral on several social media platforms across the country as a successful test run of a train on world’s highest Chenab Bridge on under construction Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link.
The video shows a train moving fast on a railway track over a bridge, which social media claims is called Chenab Bridge and also described it as a major milestone for the government.
The 28 second viral video also shared by BJP national Spokesperson, Chairman J&K Wakf Board , Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, former minister Ajay Nanda and Abdul Majeed Wani and several prominent people including verified blue tick accounts of journalists, social and political workers across country in past 24 hours.
Noted industrialist Anand Mahindra also shared the video on Twitter, but quickly deleted it later.
The timing has been curtailed as Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is on a two day Jammu and Kashmir visit and railways authorities successfully conducted trial of small train run on 21 March on highest railway track laid on the Chenab Bridge.
However, when researched the viral video was found not from the recent train test run but old. Moreover, the location of the bridge in the video is identified as China’s Beipan River Shuibai Bridge, Guizhou’. Although the bridge's design is similar to India's Chenab Bridge, the similarities end there.
Furthermore, the train tested by the Railway officials is the polar opposite to what social media users have been sharing on social media site. The original video of test shows a small train is actually an open vehicle that can run on the train track using manual push and can sit 4-5 people.
PDP spokesperson reacted to the viral video and termed it as a level of desperation to show the world that J&K is changing.
“A fake video has been circulated since yesterday by one and all congratulating some successful train run in Banihal sector over Chenab river J&K. This is the level of desperation to show the world that J&K is changing. Guys take credit for something real,” tweets Mohit Bhan, PDP spokesperson.
Chenab bridge has been declared as world's highest railway bridge. The construction of the bridge began in 2002, and has security measures against any possible terrorist attack.
This bridge can withstand magnitude 8 earthquakes and high-intensity explosions. The bridge has been built at a total cost of Rs 27949 crore and has a length of 1315 meters. The useful life of the bridge is around 120 years. At it's highest point, the bridge is taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The Chenab river bridge is being built 359 metres above the river bed, making it the highest railway bridge in the world.
The bridge is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris! The Chenab river bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link or the USBRL project.
The Baramulla-Udhampur Railway Line was announced as a national project in 2002, the project has a length of 272 km from Baramulla to Udhampur, connecting the valley to the rest of the country. While the 25 km long Udhampur - Katra section was commissioned in July 2014, the 118 km long Quezigund-Baramulla section was commissioned in October 2009. Similarly, the 118 km long Banhal-Kazigund section was started in June 2013.
Once the 118 km stretch is completed, the Srinagar-bound train can reach Kanyakumari without any hindrance. Recently, the authorities completed the track laying work on the Chenab bridge.

Updated On 3/26/2023 12:58:01 AM