A tragic incident has been reported from Odisha where a young YouTuber, Sagar Kundu, was swept away in the strong currents of the Duduma waterfall while shooting a video for his channel. The entire incident was captured on his camera, which has since gone viral on social media. Rescue teams have been deployed in the area and a search operation is currently under way.

Sagar, who hails from West Bengal, had visited the waterfall with a group of friends on Sunday afternoon. According to initial reports, the group was recording travel content when he ventured dangerously close to the water’s edge for better visuals. A sudden slip and the gushing current dragged him away before anyone could react. His friends raised an alarm immediately, following which local police and fire services initiated rescue efforts.

Video footage shocks viewers

The video clip, now circulating widely, has left viewers shocked. In the footage, Sagar can be seen preparing to capture the scenic beauty of Duduma, which is a popular tourist destination known for its height and forceful streams. Within seconds, he appears to lose balance on the wet rocks and is pulled into the deep waters. His friends can be heard screaming helplessly in the background.

हिन्दी संस्करण के लिए नीचे पढ़ें
🚨🔥🔥📢 Tragedy at Duduma Waterfall: YouTuber Swept Away by Sudden Currents 🚨🔥🔥📢

English Version

🟩➡ Filming Adventure Ends in Disaster
A 22-year-old YouTuber, Sagar Tudu from Berhampur, went missing after being swept away by powerful… pic.twitter.com/DfYn5cUAGF

— Lt Col Ashish Devliyal (Retd) (@AshishDevliyal1) August 24, 2025

Police officials from Koraput district confirmed the incident and said that specialised divers have been called in to conduct the search. Strong water flow and increased monsoon inflow from the hills have made the rescue work extremely challenging. Authorities have also urged visitors not to venture into risky spots around waterfalls during the rainy season.

Duduma waterfall and recurring tourist dangers

The Duduma waterfall, located on the border of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, stands at a height of about 155 metres and is part of the Machkund river system. Its raw beauty makes it one of the most favoured destinations for nature lovers and vloggers, but it is also notorious for accidents every monsoon. Wet rocks, sudden surges in water levels and limited safety arrangements have led to several mishaps in the past.

Local residents have often demanded stricter safety rules and better signage around the falls. While police have set up warning boards, visitors frequently ignore the advisories to get closer views for photography and videography. Officials now fear that the viral video of Sagar’s accident, though tragic, may act as a stark warning for others planning risky stunts in such locations.

Family in grief, search continues

Back in Sagar’s hometown, his family has been left in deep shock. Relatives have rushed to Odisha after being informed of the tragedy. Social media platforms where Sagar was active have been flooded with messages of concern and prayers for his safe return. Fellow content creators and subscribers have also raised demands for greater awareness and safety measures for those creating adventure videos.

As of Monday evening, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, firefighters and local police teams have continued search operations. However, officials admitted that due to heavy water flow, there was still no trace of the 27-year-old. The search teams may need to scale up operations downstream if the body is carried by the current further away from the waterfall basin.

Authorities have once again appealed to tourists and vloggers not to jeopardise their lives for the sake of videos or photos. They stressed that during the monsoon, streams like Machkund turn

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