Does this video show flood relief efforts in Gujarat? No, it's from Bangladesh

What is the claim?

A video has circulated on social media showing individuals wearing skull caps, typically associated with the Muslim community, wading through neck-deep water and distributing food supplies in a flood-hit area. The video is claimed to depict Muslims from Gujarat risking their lives to deliver aid amid the recent floods in Gujarat, India.

One Facebook post shared this video, stating, "Floods have wreaked havoc in Gujarat at this time. Meanwhile, this video is going viral in which some people who are neck-deep in water are seen providing food and water to the flood victims. It is being said that these people belong to the Muslim community who are helping the people in Gujarat (translated from Hindi)." Archived versions of this post and similar ones can be viewed here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Screenshot of other similar claims (Source: Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

In late August, severe flooding in Gujarat caused widespread damage to infrastructure and crops, along with significant loss of life. According to news reports, at least 49 people have died in the floods so far.

However, an investigation reveals that the video is from Bangladesh, not Gujarat.

What did we find?

A reverse image search using keyframes from the viral clip revealed that the video (archived here) had been uploaded by social media users in late August 2024, identifying the location as Bangladesh.

On August 25, 2024, Bangladeshi news outlet BanglaVision NEWS posted a longer version of the video (archived here) on their YouTube channel titled, "Madrasa students are providing relief by entering chest-deep waters | Madrasa Student | Humanity | BanglaVision (translated from Bangla)."

In the video, people speaking Bangla identify the location as Darbarpur, a union under Fulgazi Upazila in the Feni district of Bangladesh.

Screenshot of the YouTube video. (Source: BanglaVision News/Modified by Logically Facts)

The YouTube video credits the footage to an individual named Imran Husain. We found a longer version (archived here) of the viral video on his Facebook account, posted on August 25, 2024. Hussain, based in Sylhet, Bangladesh, captioned the 5-minute video: “The news of these madrasah students helping will not be broadcast on any channel. Let us each play the role of a channel (translated from Bangla)."

In the video, people speak in Bangla, requesting food and water. One man mentions that only "hujurs" (a term used for Muslim clerics in Bangladesh) are providing relief in the flood-affected Darbarpur area, while no political party has stepped in. He praises the clerics for their efforts in delivering food.

The viral clip is taken from the original video between 0:12 and 1:05. In response to a comment on his post, Hussain confirmed the location as Darul Uloom Madrasa, Munsirhat, and the surrounding areas of Darbarpur Road, Munsirhat, and Fulgazi Feni.

Screenshot of the original video on Facebook where the location of the video has been identified. (Source: Imran Hussain/Modified by Logically Facts)

We also found a shorter version of the video (archived here), posted by the Bangladeshi Islamic organization Ahlehadeeth Andolon Bangladesh, with a description identifying the location as Feni, Bangladesh.

Additionally, a sign in Bangla visible in the Facebook video reads, “BURO BANGLADESH DARBARPUR SHAKHA.” Further research confirmed that BURO Bangladesh is an NGO focused on poverty reduction and microfinance for underprivileged communities, further verifying that the video is from Bangladesh.

Screenshot of the original video on Facebook showing the BURO Bangladesh sign. (Source: Imran Hussain/Modified by Logically Facts)

Bangladesh faced severe flooding in late August due to heavy, continuous rainfall, affecting millions and causing numerous deaths. The floods have heightened the risk of waterborne diseases in the region, with ongoing rescue and relief efforts from local and international organizations.

The verdict

The viral video, claimed to be from Gujarat, actually depicts students from an Islamic madrasa in Bangladesh helping local residents during a flood.