Fact Check: Sialkot Depot Fire Video From 2022 Falsely Shared as ‘Operation Sindoor’ Strike

New Delhi (Vishvas News) In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, diplomatic tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan. In this context, social media users are sharing a video falsely claiming that the Indian Army destroyed a Pakistani Army’s weapons depot in Lipa Valley of POK.

However, the video in question has been available online since 2022 and features a fire-related explosion in the Sialkot military depot, not a recent military operation.

What is viral?

Social media user ‘Sanatan Dharma’ shared the viral video (archive link ) with the caption, “Indian Army blew up Pakistani Army’s weapons depot located in Lipa Valley of POK.”

Many other users across different social media platforms have shared this video in the same context.

Investigation

To verify the origin of the viral video, we conducted a reverse image search of key frames and found that it appeared in a report by NDTV World dated March 20, 2022.

However, this report does not mention the reasons for this blast in Sialkot.

Further keyword searches led us to an India Today report, referencing the same incident. Citing the Pakistani Army’s media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the report stated that, “An accidental fire broke out in the Sialkot military depot due to a short circuit.” No casualties were reported in this incident, and the fire was quickly brought under control.

We contacted Pakistani journalist Lubna Jarar Naqvi, who confirmed that the video depicts an old incident from March 2022, when an accidental fire broke out at the Sialkot military depot.

He also shared reports from three Pakistani YouTube channels, accessible here, here and here. Since these channels are blocked in India, we used Express VPN to access them and found that the videos are related to an incident from 2022, when an accidental fire broke out at a military depot in Sialkot.

The Facebook user who shared the viral video with the fake claim has over one lakh followers.

Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) was held on April 23, 2025 under the leadership of PM Modi, where the government decided to suspend the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.

The attack claimed 26 lives, including a Nepali citizen. According to the news report, in response to India’s decision, Pakistan has also warned of suspending the Shimla Agreement, a historic accord signed between the two countries in 1972.

Following the attack, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the security arrangements in Srinagar. Before his visit and immediately after the attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also visited Srinagar to assess the security arrangements.

15 days after the Pahalgam terror attack, India carried out air strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and PoK In a press briefing, the army confirmed strikes on locations including the Sarjal Camp in Sialkot and other terrorist hideouts.

A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of the Government of India confirmed the action taken under ‘Operation Sindoor’. According to the statement, t India exercised its right to respond and prevent cross-border terrorism. The operation significantly  targeted terrorist infrastructure and aimed to neutralise terrorists being sent to India.

The official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs can be read here.

Notably, the statement makes no mention of any Pakistani military base being targeted during the operation. However, the viral post falsely claims that a Pakistani army’s weapons depot has been destroyed.

Conclusion: The video featuring an accidental fire incident at a military depot in Sialkot, Pakistan, from 2022 is being shared with a fake claim of an Indian military strike in PoK. While it is true that India has carried out air strikes targeting terrorist bases in Pakistan and PoK following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the viral video is unrelated to this strike. Contrary to the claim, no Pakistani military base or weapon depon was destroyed in this strike.

Tags

• Fake AirStrike Viral Photos
• Operation Sindoor
• Pahalgam attack