Authorities in an Indian river town confirmed Friday that a woman rescued after jumping into the water was participating in a mock disaster drill, not attempting suicide as bystander videos suggested.
Civil-defense trainers hired an actor to simulate a drowning victim while fire crews practiced swift-water rope throws from a highway bridge.
Onlookers filming for social media misread fluorescent vests hidden under civilian clothes, spreading alerts about a mental-health crisis.
Organizers apologized for inadequate signage separating the exercise zone from public walkways.
Fact-checkers geolocated the official drill notice issued to district hospitals the prior evening, corroborating the training narrative.
Psychologists urged media to verify emergency broadcasts before naming individuals who may later face stigma.
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Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/archive/2026/06/13/page/5/