Koraput: A 22-year-old YouTuber from Berhampur, identified as Sagar Tudu, went missing on Saturday after being swept away by strong floodwaters while filming a video with a drone at Duduma Waterfall in Koraput district’s Machhkund area.
According to reports, Sagar had visited the popular tourist spot along with his friend Abhijit Behera from Cuttack to capture footage. While they were shooting on the upper side of the waterfall, heavy inflows into the Machhkund hydroelectric project reservoir forced authorities to release water from the dam.
Officials said that persistent rainfall in the Lamtaput block had caused the reservoir’s water level to rise. To manage the situation, about 2,000 cusecs of water was released in the afternoon. Later, around 1,500 cusecs was discharged from gate number 7 after the siren was sounded three times.
As floodwaters surged downstream, locals and fishermen near the river rushed to safety. However, Sagar was caught midstream in the strong currents and swept away before he could be rescued. His friend and others present at the site managed to escape unharmed.
Soon after the incident, teams from the Lamtaput fire brigade and Machhkund police station reached the spot and launched a rescue operation.
Search efforts are currently underway to trace the missing YouTuber.
