Viral Reporter’s Flood Coverage Reveals Unexpected Media Outlet

A young reporter gained online fame for her lively “live coverage” from a swaying boat during flood events, leading many to believe that BBC Urdu had discovered a unique new voice.

However, it turned out that Mehrunnisa was not reporting for the British Broadcasting Corporation. She was, in fact, on assignment for the Bhai Bhai Channel.

Several rivers in Punjab, like the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab, have seen increased water levels because of heavy rainfall and water released from India, which has unfortunately caused the loss of approximately 30 lives.

Amidst this difficult situation, social media users in Pakistan discovered a bit of amusement in Mehrunnisa’s reporting. The moment began when the reporter from “BBC Urdu News Punjab TV” covered the Punjab floods while on a boat.

She began her report with seriousness, stating, “As you can see, the water pressure is rising.” However, she quickly became overwhelmed, exclaiming, “Bohat dar lag raha hai, kabhi yeh iss side hoti hai kabhi uss — balance nahin ho raha humse (We’re terrified, the boat keeps tipping from one side to another, we can’t balance).”

She concluded with a sign-off that solidified her viral status: “Bas aap hamare liye dua karein, guys” (Just pray for us, guys).

During what some online users called “cute reporting,” some noticed that the logo on her microphone read “BBC Urdu,” creating a similarity to that of a global news organization. This, however, was incorrect.

After the video became popular, BBC Urdu released a statement to clarify the situation. It stated, “It has come to our attention that a digital media company called BBC Urdu News Punjab TV is operating in Pakistan while using the BBC’s name.”

It further clarified, “The BBC has no connection whatsoever with this organisation or its reporters, nor has it authorised the use of its name in this manner,” distancing itself from both the digital platform and the reporter.

The British broadcaster advised audiences to be cautious of imposters and asked them to “first verify the presence of any content published under the BBC’s name on the BBC’s official platforms.”

As expected, Mehrunnisa, now a viral sensation, defended herself and provided her explanation.

“People say we copied BBC, but we didn’t. Their BBC stands for British Broadcasting Corporation, and our BBC stands for… Bhai Bhai Channel.” She gave a shout, panicked, and signed off proudly.