Fact Check reveals ‘misleading’ image shared by VD Satheesan after Thrissur fireworks tragedy

Thiruvananthapuram: The Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, has come under fire for sharing an outdated photograph in a social media post regarding the fireworks tragedy in Thrissur, which has claimed 14 lives.

As the death toll from the explosion at the Mundathikode manufacturing unit rose on Tuesday, Satheesan posted a message of condolence on the social media platform X. However, fact-checkers quickly identified that the accompanying image—showing plumes of smoke rising during daylight—was actually from a controversial fireworks display held two years ago.

‘Factual discrepancy’

The disaster occurred at a site situated within a vast expanse of fields (Aerial views of this can be seen in this video by Mathrubhumi https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/eteJApW2/poster.mp4?width=320), where pyrotechnics were being prepared for the Thiruvambady region. In contrast, the image shared by the Opposition Leader featured urban structures, including a wall and buildings, which do not exist at the Mundathikode site.

Investigations revealed the image originated from a YouTube video of the 2024 Thrissur Pooram. During that year, the festival was famously delayed due to a stand-off between the temple authorities and the police, resulting in the fireworks being detonated at 7:10 am instead of the traditional pre-dawn hour.

Political fallout

The use of the 2024 image is particularly sensitive as that incident led to considerable political upheaval. At the time, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was forced to transfer high-ranking police officials following public outcry over the disruption of the festival—a move seen by many as an attempt to mitigate electoral damage during the polls.

While Satheesan’s post was intended to express sympathy for the victims, the inclusion of the misleading photograph has been slammed as a major oversight.