A post claims that slums in New Town, Kolkata, are becoming empty due to panic over “SIR.” Two images were shared along with the post. ZeeNews 24Ghanta shared the post in Bengali. The post wrote,”
SIR slums are emptying like an epidemic due to panic……
Scary picture in Newtown! Empty slum overnight… SIR, all the houses are emptying out of panic…”
Fact Check
Our investigation found the post to be misleading.
- A reverse image search revealed that the images are not from Kolkata, but from a report published by The Indian Express on July 19, 2025. According to the report, the photographs show women living in unauthorised slums around the Type 1 quarters in RK Puram’s Sector 7 (New Delhi). The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) had issued eviction notices on July 11, instructing residents to vacate within seven days. The CPWD clarified that while the quarters were in a dilapidated state and could collapse at any time, they had not planned any demolition of the jhuggis or quarters.
- Furthermore, we contacted, Indian Express news Journalist, Drishti Jain, who covered the RK Puram news. She also confirmed that the images were from RK Puram, New Delhi, and not from West Bengal.
- Additionally, Zee News also later apologized, admitting that their earlier report about the incident was false.
Conclusion
Thus, the images used in the claim are not from New Town, Kolkata, but from RK Puram, New Delhi, from July 2025.
