Fake news epidemic

Few days ago a I got a forwarded message on WhatsApp which alerted me that flights from Calicut airport in Kerala were overbooked, and the airport will be crowded for a few days. The message further talked about the airlines stopping passengers from travelling. They gave many excuses and told people to report to the airports for their flights much in advance. After reading the message and travelling via Calicut airport on the same day, I realised how seriously false these messages are and how misleading they can be. They create panic among people and stress out those who are travelling.

I have hardly ever seen airline check-in counters at the airport with very few passengers. The entire airport entry and exit area was totally empty, which was not what was said in the message. My driver was also surprised to see this. The airline counters were waiting for passengers to come in for check-in formalities. It was also a similar situation at the immigration counters as officials were sitting idle and the entire process was completed in just few minutes. This was a true learning experience, and those who create such false propaganda messages, advising people to be cautious when travelling on a particular date and sharing it through social media forums, must realise that they are misleading the public with such incorrect information. I advise people to double check any messages that are forwarded and shared through various social media platforms. Verify its authenticity.