Man booked for fake tsunami alert

Surat: Surat police have booked a Rajasthan-based social media user for allegedly spreading rumours and misinformation about a tsunami threat along the city's coastline through viral videos on Instagram and YouTube.According to police, the accused, identified as Shubham Jangid had posted videos warning people to stay away from the sea in Surat due to an alleged tsunami alert. The videos used visuals of low tide at Dumas beach, where the sea water had naturally receded, and falsely portrayed it as a sign of an impending tsunami.Additional commissioner of police Balram Meena said cyber police investigated the videos and registered a case against the accused under Section 353(1)(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for spreading rumours."We came across certain videos on social media claiming that Surat could witness a tsunami. After verification, one person named Shubham was booked for spreading rumours. We have also alerted villagers living in coastal areas not to believe such misinformation and to inform police if similar rumours are circulated," Meena said.Police said they have also asked social media platforms to remove 11 such videos that allegedly spread panic and fear among residents.In the viral videos, the accused claimed the sea water at Dumas Beach had receded unusually and warned viewers to stay 2-3 kilometres away from the shoreline. He allegedly compared the situation to incidents witnessed in Japan and other countries before tsunamis and falsely claimed that rescue teams such as the NDRF were being deployed along the beach.As the videos spread rapidly across Surat, police launched an investigation and registered a complaint.