Nagpur: In an attempt to sensationalize a fire incident while ignoring its sensitivity, a social media influencer from Nagpur allegedly shared a misleading video claiming that a fighter jet had crashed near the city. The video, however, actually showed a fire that broke out at a plastic factory on Nagpur–Jabalpur Road on Tuesday, March 10.

According to police sources, a major fire erupted at a plastic factory near Gold Coil Hotel after some workers reportedly set garbage on fire. The flames quickly spread across the premises, causing losses estimated to be worth several lakhs of rupees. Acting on the information, the Fire and Emergency Services Department rushed to the spot and initiated efforts to control the blaze. Firefighting operations were still underway at the time of reporting.

Meanwhile, a youth allegedly recorded a video of the incident and claimed it showed a plane crash near Nagpur. The clip was later posted on social media by an influencer, creating confusion and panic among viewers.

The misinformation comes just days after Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, a 28-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot from Nagpur, tragically lost his life in a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crash in Assam on March 5, 2026, making the circulation of such misleading content particularly insensitive.

Citizens have demanded accountability from social media influencers for spreading unverified information. Police have also warned that strict action will be taken against individuals found spreading fake or misleading news on social media.