YouTuber swept away while filming waterfall, body yet to be found

 

By Sumesh Rajan | August 25, 2025

Koraput, Odisha, INDIA: In a tragic incident highlighting the perils of risky social media content creation, a 22-year-old YouTuber from Odisha’s Berhampur was swept away by strong currents while filming near the Duduma waterfall in Koraput district on Saturday August 23 afternoon. The youth, identified as Sagar Tudu, remains missing despite intensive search operations by police, fire personnel, and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF).

According to officials, Sagar had travelled to Koraput with his friend, Abhijit Behera, from Cuttack’s Jobra area to shoot content for his YouTube channel featuring local tourist destinations. On Saturday August 23, around 4:30 pm, the duo reached Duduma waterfall, where Sagar attempted to capture live and drone footage from the middle of the stream.

Witnesses said he crossed onto a rock in the middle of the gushing waters, despite repeated warnings from his friends and fellow visitors about the rising water levels. As he continued filming, a sudden surge of water—triggered by the release of nearly 2,000 cusecs of water from the Machakunda dam following heavy rainfall in the Lamtaput region—left him stranded.

A video that has since gone viral on social media shows Sagar clinging to a rock while locals and tourists desperately tried to throw ropes to pull him to safety. Moments later, the powerful current swept him away in full view of onlookers, who could do nothing but watch in horror.

The incident has sparked heated debate online, with many social media users criticizing the growing “reel culture” and risky stunts for content creation. “Why are people risking their lives for a few views?” one user commented, while another remarked, “This is total stupidity—people should not go near waterfalls during monsoon.”

Police said that immediately after the mishap, teams from Machkund police station, Fire Services, ODRAF, and local villagers launched a coordinated search operation. Superintendent of Police (Koraput) confirmed that the youth’s family has been informed, and efforts are being intensified to trace him.

“We recovered a bag containing batteries and other camera equipment which the youth had thrown into the water moments before he was swept away,” said Madhusudan Bhoi, IIC of Machkund police station, adding that operations were resumed on Sunday and Monday but no success has been achieved so far.

Despite continuous search efforts in the downstream areas of the waterfall, Sagar remains untraced as of the latest update. Authorities have appealed to tourists not to venture close to water bodies during the monsoon season, when sudden surges from dam releases and flash floods pose life-threatening risks.