A video (here, here, here and here) going viral on social media shows a hanging bridge swaying between mountains, with some people shaking it while others scream and struggle to cross. The claim circulating with the video states that this bridge is from Haridwar. Let’s verify the truth behind this video.
Claim: The viral video showing a swaying hanging bridge with people struggling to cross is from Haridwar, India.
Fact: The video is not from Haridwar but from Nepal. It features the Gandaki Golden Bridge, a 567-meter-long suspension bridge connecting Baglung and Parbat districts in Nepal. Hence, the claim is FALSE.
To uncover the truth, we conducted a reverse image search, which led us to the same Facebook video posted on 09 November 2024, with the caption “gandakigoldenbridge.” Additionally, we found older uploads of this video, along with similar footage from the same mountain region (here and here).
Upon further research, we found that Gandaki Golden Bridge is a 567-meter suspended footbridge connecting Kusma Municipality in Parbat to Baglung Municipality in Nepal. In the viral video, we noticed people wearing T-shirts with “Children Life Sports Club” written on the back. A search for this club led us to its Facebook page, which indicates that it is based in Baglung Bazar, Nepal. Since Baglung appeared as a common location, we searched for it on Google Maps and identified the bridge, the river below it, and even the building visible in the viral video.
A study on the Gandaki Golden Bridge led us to various reports (here and here). According to these reports, the 567-meter-long suspension bridge spans the Kali Gandaki River, connecting Baglung and Parbat districts in Nepal. It has become a major tourist attraction, particularly for travellers heading to Mustang, offering breathtaking views of Mt. Dhaulagiri and the river below. The bridge sees a surge in visitors during Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath festivals and looks stunning when illuminated at night. Moreover, it has significantly boosted local tourism, drawing crowds to popular nearby attractions like Baglung Kalika Bhagwati Temple and Panchkot Dham.
Meanwhile, snowfall and rainfall have been reported in parts of Kashmir and Uttarakhand, leading to an orange alert in some areas. Recently, an avalanche in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, left 54 people trapped, out of which 46 were rescued, while 8 lost their lives. The viral video seems to have been shared in this context. But as explained in this fact-check, it is not related to India.
To sum up, an unrelated video is being falsely shared as a hanging bridge in Haridwar in a critical condition.
