A tragic incident occurred on Monday at Manikarnika Ghat in Uttarkashi, where a woman drowned in the Ganga River while reportedly attempting to pose for a photo or a social media reel. The moment was captured on video, which has since circulated online.
The woman, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was seen edging into the river to get a better shot when she slipped and was swept away by the river’s strong current. The video, believed to have been recorded by her sister, shows the harrowing sequence of events.
The widely shared video contains distressing visuals; viewer discretion is strongly advised.
In a tragic incident at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, a woman was swept away by the swirling waters of the Ganga River while attempting to film a reel. She reportedly slipped into deep water and was carried away by the current. It is believed that she did not know how to swim.… pic.twitter.com/IaYsibRJeN
— V Chandramouli (@VChandramouli6) April 16, 2025
Despite immediate attempts by bystanders to pull her to safety, efforts to rescue her were unsuccessful. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as authorities continue efforts to recover her body. This heartbreaking incident underscores the serious risks associated with venturing too close to dangerous locations for the sake of social media content.
Authorities have urged both tourists and local residents to remain extremely cautious near riverbanks and other potentially dangerous areas. Disregarding safety guidelines while creating content for social media can lead to tragic outcomes. The Uttarkashi administration, along with local police, is continuing efforts to locate and recover the woman.
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Similar case of death while filming reels from last year
In July last year, 26-year-old Aanvi Kamdar, a well-known travel influencer from Mumbai, tragically lost her life after falling into a gorge while filming an Instagram Reel at Kumbhe waterfall near Raigad, Maharashtra. Aanvi was widely recognized for her engaging travel content on social media.
The incident occurred on July 16, when she accidentally slipped and fell into a 350-foot-deep gorge while recording a video with friends. A rescue operation lasting nearly six hours was launched to retrieve her.
Aanvi sustained severe injuries from the fall and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
