AI video of India flyover collapse spreads online
- Published on March 2, 2026 at 10:39
- 2 min read
- By Akshita KUMARI, AFP India
A concrete slab at an under-construction metro rail site in the Indian megacity Mumbai collapsed in February 2026 and killed one person, but dramatic footage supposedly depicting the incident is AI-generated. An analysis found visual mistakes in the video, which was made using OpenAI's tool Sora according to its creator.
"A section of flyover collapsed on moving traffic. Heavy concrete pieces fell on vehicles passing below. Several cars and autos were trapped under debris," reads the Hindi-language caption to the video shared February 17, 2026 on Facebook.
The 10-second clip, which depicts a portion of a bridge apparently leaking water before crashing down, had racked up more than 90,000 views.
"The flyover came crashing down like death. Lives trapped under concrete," reads its text overlay.
According to Ashwin Ashok Mudgal, a transport official at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, a portion of a parapet wall at an under-construction metro rail site fell on moving traffic on February 14 (archived link).
One person was killed in the incident, and a technical inquiry has been convened to probe the cause.
The video also circulated on Instagram, Threads and X but it is not authentic.
A reverse image search on Google using keyframes found the same clip shared on an Instagram account that regularly shares AI-generated content (archived link).
AFP contacted Ranveer Singh, the owner of the account, who said on February 17 the clip was "generated within minutes" using the Sora 2 AI tool.
A closer inspection of the clip also found visual errors including illegible text on a vehicle. A man could also be heard saying "the bridge is falling" in a monotonous and unnatural tone, while others remain silent.
At the end of the clip, the flyover also appears undamaged.
AFP has debunked more AI-powered misinformation here.
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