THIS is the chilling moment a 22-year-old YouTuber was swept away by a waterfall while attempting to film a drone video in eastern India.

Sagar Tudu, 22, from Berhampur, tragically died as he waded in the waters of Duduma Waterfall in Odisha’s Koraput district.

The gut-wrenching video – which has since gone viral – shows the young man standing on a rock as torrents of water surge around him on Saturday.

Several onlookers are seen trying to throw a rope to save him moments before he is dragged away by the strong current.

The tragedy occurred when a sudden release of water into the Machkund River – following heavy rainfall – caused the river level to rise dramatically, according to local reports.

Authorities said a large-scale search was launched, with police, fire crews, the State Disaster Response Force and locals all taking part.

By Sunday evening, Sagar’s bag containing filming equipment was recovered.

The 22-year-old had a YouTube channel with nearly 500 subscribers, where he shared his photography and love for the culture of Odisha, local media reports.

The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of Duduma Waterfall, with some arguing its powerful currents – especially during or after heavy rains – pose serious risks to visitors.

The 500ft-high waterfall, located in Koraput district of Odisha, is popular with tourists.

Several days later, on Tuesday, over 30 people were killed near a Hindu shrine in Indian-administered Kashmir after heavy rainfall sparked landslides and flash foods across northern India.