Sanjiv Bhatt used an old image (R) to accuse Modi of "viscerally" hating Kerala. (Photos: Reuters and Twitter/Sanjiv Bhatt)

Sanjiv Bhatt, a former police officer, misrepresented an old image as having been taken during the floods in Kerala, and used it to accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "viscerally" hating the state.

The picture shows men repairing wires on electricity poles. "Kerala State Electricity Board workers trying to restore power even while facing heavy rains. This photograph was taken 5 days ago. Now you know why Modi and his Sanghi Thugs viscerally hate Kerala," Bhatt said in a tweet.

India Today's Viral Test team did a Google search for the image -- and it turns out that Mathrubhumi, a Malayalam newspaper, used it in an article published in October 2016.

That story was about Urjadyut, a Kerala electricity board project. In fact, the image has also been used in other articles related to the board.

As well, our Kerala correspondent told us the picture has been around for some time.

READ |India declines foreign aid for Kerala flood relief

Kerala has been devastated by monsoon floods; over 350 people have died, and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) says the potential damage is worth Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 crore.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Office has said the state police have been asked to take strict action against people spreading fake news on social media.

WATCH | How Kerala has lost to floods: Human tragedy being used for politics?