AI or actual accident? 10-second crash video leaves netizens stunned

A viral video on social media appears to capture a Mahindra Thar stuck in an overhead signboard on the highway, specifically on the NH-48 stretch. The viral video, which has been shared on social media platforms such as X and Instagram, has garnered significant attention and raises curiosity over whether the accident really happened.

The Mahindra Thar appears to be stuck in a signboard that indicates directions to Delhi, Gurugram and Jaipur, and mentions Exit 22 on the NH-48 stretch. Multiple posts associated with the viral video suggest that the accident allegedly happened near Jaipur after the car collided with the signboard at a high speed.

Also Read | Namaz under station dome? Railways remove green structure overnight in UP after complaint

No official confirmation

So far, there has been no official announcement regarding the incident. No police statements, traffic advisories or media reports have surfaced in relation to the video. Usually, in cases of accidents involving vehicles suspended from the highway gantry, there are immediate police and media advisories, but nothing of that sort has been reported in this incident.

Questions over signboard details

Online users reviewing the footage have pointed to unusual features in the signage. Some lettering near the NH-48 marking appears distorted and inconsistent with standardised highway signage used in India. Official road signs generally follow uniform fonts and spacing to ensure clarity for motorists.

Several people have pointed out unusual features on the signboard in the video. The letters on the signboard, near the NH-48 marking, appear distorted and not in line with the usual Indian highway signs. Usually, the font style on Indian highway signs is consistent to help drivers keep track of the road.

Individuals have also pointed out that there is no evidence of damage to the surrounding structures. There are no confirmed eye-witness videos and photos of the scene either. Usually, in cases of accidents on the highway, additional footage from eye-witnesses and other commuters does appear online.

Also Read | Viral reel lands Delhi biker in trouble after opening doors of moving buses

The gaps have led to suggestions that the Mahindra Thar crash video could be edited or created using AI technology. The video also shows the ease with which visual media can be manipulated to resemble actual events, and slight inconsistencies in text or image may point to artificial creation.

What users are saying online?

A user on X wrote, "Thar Drivers can achieve anything. (Though I still think this is not a genuine pic). After my personal experience with “Thar driver mentality”, every time I across one I shiver !"

Another wrote, "This is crazy ai stuff! For a moment you get tricked into believing it’s true (also because it’s a THAR), but it’s made with ai, as pointed out by good folks."

"Since yesterday, a 10-second video of this Thar has been widely shared, which is of the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway. In this video, a Thar is shown hanging on a green Direction board, and many people are sharing it calling it a major accident. But the investigation revealed that this video has been completely edited using AI.

There is neither any news of this accident nor any police report; on top of that, the number plate is from Kerala, and how could a vehicle weighing over 1.5 tons stay stuck in that board?" said one X user.