NEW DELHI • A doctored photo released by the Indian government showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi surveying severe flooding from a helicopter has been deleted, and his office promised remedial action after criticism on social media.

Mr Modi travelled to Tamil Nadu's capital, Chennai, on Thursday to get a first-hand view of the disaster, after the strongest rains in a century killed more than 280 people over a month and displaced thousands of residents.

The government's Press Information Bureau (PIB) published a photo on its website that showed Mr Modi looking through the round window of a helicopter, through which a clear view of waterlogged buildings was visible. It was later taken down.

A similar photograph, but with a blurred view through the window, was posted on Mr Modi's personal Twitter feed (@narendramodi).

Commentators on social media accused the PIB of digitally manipulating its version of the picture. The Prime Minister's office was shocked to see facts being distorted, said a senior official who declined to be named, adding that officials from the press office had been summoned.

Humorists published their own photoshopped images of Mr Modi. One showed the Premier looking through the helicopter window at Earth as seen from the moon.

"Where no more countries are left to visit," tweeted @brownbrumby, taking a jibe at Mr Modi's extensive foreign travel.

REUTERS