Drone Footage of Western India Dam Falsely Linked to Nepal Glacial Flood Response

A dramatic video circulating across digital platforms that purports to show emergency floodgate operations at the Gandak barrage along the India-Nepal border is false. While claims online assert that the footage captures millions of gallons of surging water being released following a devastating glacial collapse in Nepal, the visual material was actually recorded at a completely different reservoir located in western India.

The misleading post gained widespread traction after being published in the Sinhala language on Facebook on August 29, 2026. The accompanying caption claimed that the video documented the Gandak barrage in the eastern Indian state of Bihar managing severe river swells flowing through the Trishuli, Narayani, and Gandak waterways after catastrophic glacial floods struck upstream in Nepal.

In the circulated video, high-altitude drone footage shows white water rushing forcefully through the massive sluice gates of a large dam. Accompanying text praised the operation of all 36 gates of the Gandak installation, alleging that the recorded scene proved Indian authorities had successfully reduced flood levels and prevented widespread destruction downstream.

However, an investigation into the video's origin confirmed that the recording has no connection to the border barrage in Bihar or the recent disaster in the Himalayas. The footage instead depicts the Yesaji Kank reservoir, commonly known as the Bhatghar dam, situated in the Pune district of India’s western state of Maharashtra.

The individual who captured the footage, Ashish Gaikwad, confirmed that he had personally recorded the scene during the previous month. Speaking on September 7, 2026, Gaikwad verified that the clip shows the Bhatghar dam and clarified that the video was shot in July 2026 without the use of artificial intelligence generation or digital enhancement tools.

Gaikwad had previously published a longer version of the same drone footage to his personal Instagram account on August 3, 2026. That earlier post shows an operator maneuvering a drone over the reservoir at the Maharashtra location, weeks prior to the glacial disaster and the subsequent opening of floodgates in eastern India.

Visual comparisons between satellite imagery and the viral clip further substantiate the misattribution. Geographical landmarks, dam architecture, and spillway configurations visible in Google Maps satellite images of the Bhatghar dam match the video precisely, while presenting stark differences when compared to the physical structure of the Gandak barrage.

The viral falsehood arose in the wake of real and extensive disaster response efforts undertaken along the India-Nepal border. In late August 2026, a massive glacial collapse in Nepal unleashed severe flash flooding that rapidly traveled down the shared river network toward neighboring Indian territory.

In response to the sudden influx of water, authorities in Bihar took decisive action on August 26 and August 27 by raising all 36 sluice gates at the Gandak barrage. Located in Bihar's Valmikinagar district directly along the frontier with Nepal, the 60-year-old facility served as a critical line of defense against catastrophic overflow.

To protect local populations from potential inundation, administrative officials coordinated the precautionary evacuation of more than 4,000 residents from vulnerable communities near the barrage. While the operational response at the Gandak site was real, it was entirely distinct from the drone visuals shared in the viral social media post.

Upstream in Nepal, the humanitarian and structural toll of the glacial flood has remained severe. The disaster overwhelmed infrastructure along the river basin, sweeping through key projects and leaving hundreds of hydropower personnel missing in the immediate aftermath of the deluge.

Rescue teams operating in difficult conditions have continued searching for survivors trapped in subterranean structures. Hopes were lifted following the recovery of three workers from deep inside tunnel complexes, including two Nepali nationals pulled to safety on September 4 and a Chinese worker rescued on September 5.

The scale of the disaster prompted widespread remembrance across Nepal. On September 7, 2026, the country observed an official national day of mourning, during which national flags were flown at half-mast and hundreds of citizens assembled in Kathmandu for solemn candlelight vigils.

The misidentification of the Bhatghar dam clip is part of a broader pattern of online misinformation that emerged following the glacial disaster. Unrelated archival videos and visuals from distant locations have frequently been repackaged by social media accounts to generate engagement during unfolding humanitarian crises.