Fact Check: Guwahati Pipeline Burst Falsely Shared as Kolkata Cloudburst During Record Rains
As the video spread on social media, many users claimed it showed a dramatic collapse of a road in Delhi, possibly link
Kolkata cloudburst
Heavy rains caused widespread flooding in Kolkata and surrounding areas, leading to at least 11 deaths. Multiple people were electrocuted by submerged live wires, which sparked criticism. In less than 24 hours on September 23, 2025, Kolkata received 251.4 mm of rain, making it the heaviest single-day rainfall since 1986.
Meanwhile, a video showing a heavy gush of water, near to a railway line is in circulation on social media claiming it shows the cloudburst in Kolkata. The video is in circulation with captions like “మేఘాల నుండి జారిపడ్డ వర్షంనీరు వింతగా చూస్తున్న జనం | Viral Video | CVR NEWS SHORTS”
The caption in Bengali goes as “কলকাতায় দেখা গেল মেঘভাঙ্গা বৃষ্টি।এই দৃশ্য দেখতে ভিড় জমিয়েছে অনেকে।।“ when translated “Cloud-burst rain was seen in Kolkata. Many people gathered to watch this scene.”
Fact check:
An Instagram post by Guwahati Plus stated that the video showing water gushing up into the skies in Guwahati’s Chandmari on September 20, 2025 has gone viral on social media, with users claiming it depicts a cloudburst in Kolkata. The clip circulated against the backdrop of Kolkata experiencing nearly 250 mm of rainfall in 24 hours days after Guwahati’s incident, as it was one of the heaviest downpours in decades that caused severe waterlogging, flight delays, power cuts, and multiple fatalities.
The viral video, originally shared on Facebook with the caption “Cloud burst at Kolkata,” was widely circulated across platforms, including X. Several users assumed the visuals were linked to the city’s monsoon crisis. However, fact-checking by multiple agencies revealed that the footage had no connection with Kolkata’s rainfall.
Reverse image searches and keyframe analysis traced the video to another post dated September 20. The report clarified that the incident occurred in Chandmari, Guwahati, and involved a burst drinking water supply pipe. The explosion sent water surging 70–80 feet into the air, creating a fountain-like effect. Local media reports indicated that the burst disrupted water supply to hundreds of households and caused flooding in low-lying areas. Traffic disruption was limited as crowds were sparse, with many people paying tribute to late singer Zubeen Garg.
According to a report published on G plus, a video showing water gushing up into the skies in Guwahati’s Chandmari on September 20, 2025 has gone viral on social media with users claiming it depicts a cloudburst in Kolkata. The clip circulated against the backdrop of Kolkata experiencing nearly 250mm of rainfall in 24 hours.
However, the footage has no connection with Kolkata rainfall. The video shows the water gushing upwards after a pipeline burst in Chandmari, Guwahati on September 20, 2025. The explosion sent water surging 70-80 feet into the air, creating a fountain-like effect. Local media reports indicated that the burst disrupted water supply to hundreds of households and caused flooding in low-lying areas, although traffic disruption was limited as crowds were sparse due to people paying tribute to late singer Zubeen Garg.Even as the city continued to mourn singer Zubeen Garg, Guwahati witnessed a dramatic and unexpected incident when a major water pipeline burst near the Chandmari flyover, stunning both residents and commuters.
Therefore, the viral video is a video of a pipeline burst in Chandmari, Guwahati that occurred on September 20, 2025 and is not related to a cloudburst in Kolkata. The claim is false.