Residents Lash Out at Vloggers for Panic-Driven Flood ‘Live Updates’

SRINAGAR: As rivers in Kashmir stabilise after the recent flood scare, residents have voiced anger over what they call a “social media circus,” accusing vloggers and self-styled reporters of fuelling panic with incessant “live updates” on Facebook and other platforms.

“Social media has turned into a fish market. Every other person is going ‘live’, saying hum abhi apko information dee rei h subha se, nazreen share karo,” said Umer, a student from Srinagar.

He added that instead of clarity, people were being fed half-truths and rumours. “Everyone here is a journalist. A mic and a mobile makes you a journalist in Kashmir,” he said.

Residents said the deluge of self-styled broadcasts caused more alarm than reassurance. “When we open our phones, all we see are new faces with a mic and cameraman, talking as if they are running TV channels. It creates unnecessary panic,” said Shazia, another Srinagar resident.

Locals have urged authorities to step in and regulate the trend. “People need reliable information, not chaos and fish market reporting. Authorities should check what is happening on social media,” another resident remarked.

In a lighter vein, one resident said, “If Kashmir’s population is over one crore, then 99 lakh people are busy saying ‘nazreen, share karo’ every day.”

Earlier on September 3,the Irrigation and Flood Control Department had asked journalists and Facebook page administrators not to spread panic by posting hourly gauge readings or minute-to-minute updates. (KNO)