No, these viral photos are not from Pahalgam attack - they’re AI-generated.
Srinagar: Merely hours after the horrifying terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, misinformation and false news began flooding across social media platforms. The Pahalgam terrorist attack, one of the worst since the Pulwama attack, has killed at least 26 people and left 10 injured.
Among the many disturbing photos circulating on social media, many photos showing dead bodies lying amidst the valley are also being shared widely, linking them to the Pahalgam attack. These photos are AI-generated and therefore, not real.
Also Read | Fact Check: Did Terrorists Target Intelligence Officials In The Pahalgam Attack?
One such photo is an AI-generated image of a woman crying over a man lying dead. This is AI-generated and therefore fake.
AI-generated image.
This is the real photo.
न भूलेंगे, न छोड़ेंगे, न माफ करेंगे#PahalgamTerroristAttack pic.twitter.com/Hf6LO8CFNi
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) April 22, 2025
Also Read | How Pahalgam Terror Attack Is Significant Considering Evolving Regional Dynamics?
Two other photos show several dead bodies lying across a green field while other civilians and police officials looked over them. One of them even has “Meta AI” written on the corner and yet it has been widely circulated by social media accounts with large followings.
“Meta AI” watermark on the corner is clearly visible.
This is also fake.
AI-generated image.
Also Read | Pahalgam Terror Attack: Direct Attack On Indian State, Must Give Fitting Response, Says Congress
Prominent social media accounts such as @MeghUpdates on X (formerly known as Twitter) shared the above two photos claiming them to be actual images from the terror attack. The account is known to often share misinformation online. While some pointed out that the photos were fake and generated by AI, many didn’t even doubt before sharing and believing them.
There is a community note highlighting the fact that these were fake images.
Also Read | After Pahalgam: A Look Back At The Deadliest Civilian Terror Strikes In Kashmir
State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced plans to convene an all-party meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss the ongoing situation in the Himalayan region following Tuesday’s deadly attack.
Seven armed attackers are suspected of carrying out the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, including four to five who are believed to be from Pakistan, The Indian Express newspaper reports, quoting security sources.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that those who planned and carried out the Kashmir region’s worst attack on civilians in decades would see a swift response. “We won’t just reach those people who carried out the attack. We will also reach out to those who planned this from behind the scenes on our land,” he said.
