When we go on vacation, we want to document the moments: the new sights, picturesque views, our faces in new places. These days, with our devices, we can capture all of these experiences pretty easily. But a recent story out of India is a reminder that we need to prioritize our safety as we document. Sadly, as one mom played in the Bhagirathi River, with her daughter filming, she fell and was swept away by the current. The footage of what was supposed to be a celebratory moment ended in tragedy with the child calling out for her mom.
Sadly, the last moments of this mother’s life were captured on film, NDTV reported. In the video, the woman, who has been identified as Visheshtha from Nepal by the New Indian Express, is seen smiling and splashing around in a river in Uttarakhand, a state in northern India. Eventually, she slips. Her daughter screams out, “Mummy!” as the woman struggles to stand up and find her bearings in the water. She was never able to as a current took her away.
The 35-year-old mother was visiting relatives with her 11-year-old daughter and husband, Poorna Shahi. She asked her child to record a video of her in the water. Soon after she slipped away, bystanders alerted authorities of the woman’s disappearance, according to NDTV. They launched a search and rescue effort.
Rafts, boats, and divers searched the area for Visheshtha, but as it became dark, the crew suspended their efforts. They planned to continue searching in the morning. Still, at the time of publication, they have not been able to find her.
This is not the first time a tragedy has struck while someone tried to capture social media content. Last year, an Instagram influencer fell into a gorge while shooting a Instagram video at the Kumbhe waterfall, 80 miles outside of Mumbai in India. Aanvi Kamdar, who was traveling with friends, slipped into a deep crevice while she was shooting a video.
