Odisha YouTuber swept away in dam water discharge

A day of content creation turned tragic for 27-year-old Sagar Tudu, a popular YouTuber from Berhampur, when he went missing near the picturesque Duduma Waterfall. Sagar, accompanied by his friend Abhijit Behera from Cuttack, had visited the popular tourist destination to shoot drone footage for his channel.

Sudden Water Surge

Eyewitnesses reported that the water level rose sharply after the Machkund Dam authorities opened the sluice gates without warning. Tudu reportedly slipped, losing his balance on the wet rocks, and was swept away by the powerful current before anyone could react. 

At the same time, the gates of the Machkund dam were suddenly opened, releasing a large volume of water. As a result, a sudden surge of floodwaters rushed through the river, sweeping away one of the two young men. Both of them are reported to be YouTubers.

Rescue Operations Underway

Local police, along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have launched an extensive search operation. As of now, Tudu remains untraceable. Authorities have warned tourists to exercise extreme caution in the area.

Recurring Safety Concerns

This is not the first such incident at Duduma. In June, another tourist went missing in the same spot and remains unaccounted for. Residents have demanded better warning systems and safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

What was meant to be an adventurous video shoot ended in disaster, highlighting once again the urgent need for safety protocols around Odisha’s most-visited waterfall.