New Delhi, May 13: Amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in the country, fake news on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp among others have witnessed a surge, triggering panic among people. Ever since the first lockdown was announced in India on March 24, social media platforms are flooded with fake news and rumours. In a latest such case, several users on micro-logging site Twitter have been circulating fake information that the Twitter name of Union Territory of Ladakhhas been changed to Gilgit-Baltistan, Ladakh (U.T).

The claim states that a twitter handle @GB_Ladakh_India is the official account of "Gilgit-Baltistan, Ladakh, UT, India". Subsequently, a clarification was issued by the government saying that the information was fake and that the Twitter handle was fake. A fact check by Press Information Bureau (PIB) stated that the the Twitter handle - @GB_Ladakh_India was fake. It stated that the Union Territory of Ladakh has only 2 official Twitter handles which is @DIPR_Leh and @InformationDep4. Jammu & Kashmir Students in Delhi Told to Arrange Buses by Themselves to Return Home? PIB Fact Check Finds News to be Fake.

Take a Look at the Tweets:

Earlier this month, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) began referring to its meteorological sub-division of Jammu and Kashmir as "Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad" in its weather forecast updates. Reports inform that the change in name is reflecting on the official website of IMD. Muzaffarabad is "capital" of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), while Gilgit-Baltistan is also under illegal Pakistani occupation.

Fact check

Ladakh Union Territory Twitter Handle Name Changed to Gilgit-Baltistan, Ladakh (U.T)? PIB Debunks Fake Claims, Here’s the Truth
Claim :

A twitter handle @GB_Ladakh_India is official account of "Gilgit-Baltistan, Ladakh, UT, India"

Conclusion :

The Twitter handle is Fake as the Union Territory of Ladakh has only 2 official Twitter handles- @DIPR_Leh and @InformationDep4

Full of Trash
Clean

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 13, 2020 12:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).