"This Indian man has just been found in a cave."
A video of a frail Indian man who was rescued from the cave he was found to be living in went viral.
The clip shows two younger men helping the elderly individual, who is very gaunt and wearing only a loin cloth, walk over rocks and along some steps.
It is reported that the cave is in Bengaluru.
However, a lot of attention is paid to the caption as it claimed that the man was 188 years old.
An X user called Concerned Citizen shared the video and wrote:
“This Indian man has just been found in a cave. It’s alleged he’s 188 years old. Insane.”
With 34.4 million views, it is clear that the hunched man is very old. But many questioned whether the Indian man is really 188 years old.
As the video gained traction, X posted a disclaimer that highlighted that the man is a Hindu saint known as Siyaram Baba, who hails from Madhya Pradesh.
The disclaimer read: “Misinformation! The elderly man is a Hindu Saint named ‘Siyaram Baba’ who lives in Madhya Pradesh, India.
“According to reports he is about 110 years old.”
The disclaimer cited a Navbharat Times article from July 2, 2024, as one of its sources.
According to the article: “Many stories about Siyaram Baba are famous in the region. It is said that he performed penance while standing on one leg for 10 years.
“Even at the age of 109, Baba reads the Ramayana without glasses and does all his work by himself.
“Baba speaks very little, yet devotees still flock to seek his blessings.
“Siyaram Baba is a saint residing at the Bhatyan Ashram, located on the banks of the Narmada River in Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh.
“While no one knows his exact age, it is believed that he is around 109 or 110 years old.”
?? This Indian Man has just been found in a cave.
It’s alleged he’s 188 years old. Insane. pic.twitter.com/a7DgyFWeY6
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) October 3, 2024
It said some people claim the man is as old as 130, adding:
“However, Baba himself has never provided any information regarding his actual age.”
Fact-checking website D-Intent Data also debunked claims that he was 188 years old and confirmed the man was a “Saint named Siyaram Baba”.
Under Concerned Citizen’s post, Dr Simon Hundeshagen, said “medically, it is virtually impossible for a human to live to 188 years old”.
He added: “The longest verified human lifespan is 122 years, achieved by Jeanne Calment.
“Even with exceptional genetics, a healthy lifestyle, and advances in medicine, the body undergoes irreversible declines in function, making such an extreme age highly improbable.”
Concerned Citizen appeared to admit their mistake and later posted:
“I’m embarrassed I even wrote 188. Anything over 120 would have been ridiculous.”
Officially, the oldest living human right now is Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who was born on May 23, 1908, and is 116.
Meanwhile, the oldest living man is Englishman John Tinniswood, who celebrated turning 112 on August 26, 2024.
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