Fact Check: Video Shows Bhatghar Dam In Pune, not A Dam On The India-Nepal Border
The video being shared with the claim that it shows the Gandak Barrage Project, which allegedly protected Bihar from the severe floodings in Nepal, is actually a video of the Bhatghar Dam in Pune district, Maharashtra.
- By: Abhishek Parashar
- Published: Sep 4, 2026 at 04:04 PM
New Delhi (Vishvas News): Following the flash flood in Nepal on August 26, 2026, vigilance has been heightened in Bihar amid concerns over rising water levels in the Gandak River. In this context, a video showing a dam filled with water is being widely shared on various social media platforms. It is being claimed that this dam is located in Valmikinagar, West Champaran district, Bihar on the India-Nepal border. It is under the Gandak Barrage Project, which allegedly saved Bihar from the disaster caused by recent floods in Nepal. The claim further asserts that this project was a gift from India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Vishvas News investigated the viral claim and found it to be false. The dam seen in the viral video has no connection to the India-Nepal border. It shows the ‘Bhatghar Dam’, located in Pune, Maharashtra. Videos of this dam surfaced online recently when it reached its full capacity. This old and unrelated video is being deceptively shared by falsely linking it to the recent floods in Nepal and the Gandak Barrage. The Gandak Barrage at Valmikinagar in Bihar is a different structure situated on the India-Nepal border.
What is Viral?
Instagram user ‘bharat_junction.in’ shared the viral video (Archive Link) and wrote a caption, “The Gandak Barrage project was a major joint initiative between India and Nepal. From the Indian side, this project was politically pushed forward by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and was formally inaugurated on May 4, 1964. Located in Bhaisalotan (now known as Valmikinagar in West Champaran district, Bihar) on the India-Nepal border, Nehru envisioned this project to convert a destructive river into an asset for regional development. #india #reality #news”
Additionally, text overlaid on the viral video reads: “Bihar (because of this dam) safely escaped the floods in Nepal.”
Several other users across various social media platforms have shared this video with the same claim.
Investigation
Upon conducting a reverse image search using the keyframes of the viral video showing the dam, we found the video on the profiles of several social media users, where it was shared and identified as the Bhatghar Dam in Pune.
YouTube user ‘@prajapat6528’ shared this video on August 8, 2026, and described it as the Bhatghar Dam in Pune, Maharashtra.
However, the flash flood disaster in Nepal happened on August 26, 2026.
Another YouTube user ‘@GeoDisha05’ also shared this video on August 28, 2026 as Pune’s Bhatghar Dam. The user wrote: “After heavy monsoon rains, Pune’s Bhatghar (Lloyd) Dam has filled to its full capacity, presenting a magnificent sight of overflowing water. With water being released from the spillway, this dam plays a vital role in water storage and flood management in the region.”
The Facebook profile of ‘Jansampark News’ also shared this video as Pune’s Bhatghar Dam. Our investigation clearly shows that the viral video is not featuring the Gandak Barrage (Valmikinagar) in Bihar, situated on the India-Nepal border.
Following this, we searched for images of the Gandak Barrage at Valmikinagar. Images of this barrage are available on the official website of the West Champaran district of Bihar, none of which match the dam shown in the viral video. The difference is clearly visible when the images are compared.
According to the provided details, “the site, formerly known as ‘Bhaisa Lotan’, is a major tourist spot where a dam (Gandak Project) was constructed on the Gandak River. The dam and its canals are described as the lifeline for north-western Bihar. The canals also provide irrigation to parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Hydro-electricity is also generated from the dam. This project was dedicated to the nation by the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.”
For more clarification on the viral video, we contacted Vinod Rao, Bureau Chief of our media partner ‘Dainik Jagran’ in Bagaha, West Champaran. He confirmed that it is not a video of the Gandak Barrage located in Valmikinagar. He shared a September 2, 2026 report mentioning the rise in the water level at the Gandak Barrage. Valmikinagar falls under this bureau’s jurisdiction.
According to a news report by ‘Aaj Tak’, water levels in the Gandak River rose following the devastating flash floods in Nepal. Six districts in Bihar are on alert after the Nepal calamity, while nine teams of the NDRF have already been deployed in the region.
What is the Context?
According to the Nepali news portal ‘ekantipur.com’, 11,993 people have been safely rescued as of September 1, 2026, while 1,050 people have died in the disaster and nearly 4,000 people are still missing. These figures were officially released by the government.
‘The Himalayan Times’ report, dated September 2, 2026 states, “Prime Minister Balendra Shah said that the catastrophic flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa is linked to climate changes and called for strong international action to address growing climate risks in the Himalayas. In a social media post on Tuesday, PM Shah said that a 1.8 degree Celsius rise in Himalayan temperatures could be a cause of this disaster.”
Other #FactCheck reports related to the Nepal disaster can be read on Vishvas News. The user who shared the viral video has around 60,000 followers on Instagram.
Conclusion:The video being shared with the claim that it shows the Gandak Barrage Project, which allegedly protected Bihar from the severe floodings in Nepal, is actually a video of the Bhatghar Dam in Pune district, Maharashtra.
- Claim Review : Video of Gandak Barrage, due to which Bihar remained safe from Nepal floods.
- Claimed By : Insta User- bharat_junction.in
- Fact Check : False
- ekantipur.com
- Google Maps
- Video posted by FB handle Jansampark News
- Video posted by YT handle @prajapat6528, Dated 8 Aug 2026
- Video posted by YT handle @GeoDisha05
- ValmikiNagar(Indo-Nepal) Barrage, Westchamparan.nic.in
- News report by aajtak.in, Dated 26 Aug 2026
- News report by thehimalayantimes.com, Dated 2 Sep 2026
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