On 13th August the unverified news of the demise of the former president Dr. Pranab Mukherjee due to Covid19 went viral social media. A hashtag #ripPranabMukherjee started trending on thursday morning and rised to number one the twitter trending hashtag list.

Twitter

The rumours of the demise of the former president of India went viral and many journalist also tweeted this unverified news on their twitter account. Rajdeep Sardesai the consulting editor of India Today tweeted that “Breaking: Former president Pranab Mukherjee has passed away.. farewell Pranab da.. many many fond memories of a dyed in the wool true Indira generation politician who lived and breathed politics..”

Many other journalists and popular accounts tweeted the unverified viral news.

The trends24 website shows that the #ripPranabMukherjee was actually trending on twitter.

Facebook

The rumors spread quickly on Facebook as people started sharing the rumor like this page

Truth

The news of the demise of former President Pranab Mukherjee was found to be a fake news as clarified by his son.

Former president Pranab Mukherjee tested positive for COVID-19 on August 10 according to media reports. Mukherjee tweeted about contracting the virus.

On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for COVID19 today.
I request the people who came in contact with me in the last week, to please self isolate and get tested for COVID-19. #CitizenMukherjee

— Pranab Mukherjee (@CitiznMukherjee) August 10, 2020

Pranab Mukherjee’s son cleared the air about his father’s health. He dismissed the rumours by refuting claims of demise of his father. He tweeted Abhijit Mukherjee who took to Twitter to clarify, “My Father Shri Pranab Mukherjee is still alive & haemodynamically stable! Speculations & fake news being circulated by reputed Journalists on social media clearly reflects that Media in India has become a factory of Fake News.”

My Father Shri Pranab Mukherjee is still alive & haemodynamically stable !
Speculations & fake news being circulated by reputed Journalists on social media clearly reflects that Media in India has become a factory of Fake News .

— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) August 13, 2020

Also Clarified by his daughter

Rumours about my father is false. Request, esp’ly to media, NOT to call me as I need to keep my phone free for any updates from the hospital🙏

— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) August 13, 2020

 

Journalists and popular personalities deleted their tweets apologizing to the common people.

My deep deep apologies for falling for fake news being circulated on Pranab Mukherjee passing away. I am deeply distraught for falling for this fake news.. it was unprofessional of me to not reconfirm it before tweeting. Apologies to all.. and prayers with the family.. 🙏🙏🙏

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) August 13, 2020

Pranab Mukherjee is currently recovering after brain surgery at New Delhi’s Army Research and Referral hospital. “The condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee remains unchanged this morning. He is deeply comatose with stable vital parameters and continues to be on ventilatory support: Army Research & Referral (R&R) Hospital, Delhi,” tweeted ANI.

The condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee remains unchanged this morning. He is deeply comatose with stable vital parameters and continues to be on ventilatory support: Army Research & Referral (R&R) Hospital, Delhi https://t.co/JPhaOOoEvL

— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2020