Fact Check: Viral ‘Avalanche in Uttarakhand’ Video Is AI-Generated

Claim

A video circulating on Instagram and Facebook claims to show a massive avalanche in Uttarakhand, northern India

Verdict: Fake

What Is Being Shared?

The widely circulated video features:

• A dramatic avalanche descending rapidly from a mountain
• Snow engulfing people and parked vehicles
• Onlookers appearing to stand still as the avalanche approaches

The posts began circulating after avalanche warnings were issued in Uttarakhand due to heavy snowfall in late January 2026, making the claim appear believable.

Investigation By factcheck India

Step 1: Reverse Image Search

We extracted keyframes from the viral clip and conducted a reverse image search. The same video was found in an Instagram post dated January 30, 2026 and prior to the viral claims. The account that posted it regularly shares AI-generated videos. Importantly, the caption of the January 30 upload referenced OpenAI’s text-to-video model Sora, indicating that the footage was artificially created.

Step 2: Visual Inconsistencies

A closer review of the video reveals multiple signs of synthetic generation:

• Shop signboards display distorted and unreadable text
• People in the frame appear unnaturally calm despite the approaching avalanche
• Certain shadows and motion elements appear inconsistent

These irregularities are common markers of AI-generated videos.

Step 3: AI Detection Analysis

We analysed the footage using Hive Moderation’s AI detection tool. The result indicated that the video is “likely to contain AI-generated or deepfake content.”

What Is The Real Avalanche Incident?

While the viral clip is fake, avalanches did occur in northern India around the same period. However, there are no credible reports or official confirmations of an avalanche in Uttarakhand matching the visuals seen in the viral clip.

Conclusion By Factcheck India

The video claiming to show an avalanche in Uttarakhand is AI-generated and does not depict a real incident. The clip was originally shared by an account that creates synthetic content using AI tools. It resurfaced after avalanche warnings in northern India, misleading viewers into believing it showed a real disaster. The viral video is not real footage of an avalanche in Uttarakhand. It was generated using artificial intelligence. The clip shows snow racing down a mountainside and crashing into people and vehicles along a narrow street.