A fun trip turned into the worst nightmare for a Mumbai-based travel influencer Aanvi Kamdar‘s close ones. The 27-year-old is no more. She passed away after falling into a 300-foot gorge at Kumbhe Waterfall in Maharashtra, India. Also known as ‘@the glocal journal,’ Aanvi had left for an outing to the famous waterfall in Raigad district on July 16 along with a group of seven friends.
Aanvi was pursuing her passion for exploration and storytelling as a travel content creator. Gone too soon, she has left behind a legacy of memories and a trail of inspiration. In this article, we pay tribute to Aanvi’s life, her love for travel, and the indelible mark she left on the world.
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Who Is Aanvi Kamdar?
A Chartered Accountant and former Deloitte employee, Aanvi Kamdar, famously known as @theglocaljournal created engaging travel content. Passionate about travel and adventure, she was known for her Instagram reels about monsoon tourism in Maharashtra. She would share unique experiences with her followers on social media who loved her content.
With 284k followers on Instagram, she described herself as a “Travel Detective” as per her Instagram bio. She was a pro at discovering cafes, luxury stays, itineraries of various places, tips, and a lot more. Aanvi’s content about “budget-friendly things” for popular locations in the country and abroad was quite popular too.
A Heartbreaking Mishap
Aanvi was on a trip with seven friends two days ago near Kumbhe Waterfall in Mangaon, Raigad district. While hiking there, she fell into a deep 300-foot gorge. Her friends promptly informed the authorities, leading to a quick response from the police, rescue team, the Coast Guard, Kolad rescue team, and Maharashtra State Electricity Board staff.
Following a 6-hour rescue effort, Aanvi was saved from the fall. She was immediately taken to a nearby medical facility, but Aanvi unfortunately passed away due to her injuries. “As soon as we reached the spot, we realised that the girl has fallen nearly 300-350 feet. Even after reaching her, it was difficult to get her up, as she was injured and it was raining heavily. So we decided to get her out using a vertical pulley,” said a rescuer.
“She fell on the hard, slippery patch of rocks around 300ft into the valley and couldn’t be spotted initially. She was sent up using a stretcher attached to rappelling ropes. Six rescuers climbed down the hill, while another 50 assisted on top of the small hill,” they added.
The Internet’s Insensitive Reactions
The news of Aanvi’s death spread around fast. However, many media publications wrongfully quoted that she passed away as she was filming reels. This was an unverified fact that was blindly being plastered on all headlines. Reading this, netizens kept humanity in the back pocket and passed negative and insensitive comments targeting “influencers” and “content creation.”
Coming across this menace, Co-founder of Monk Entertainment (Monk-E), Viraj Sheth backed the creator economy and lashed at the ‘dark-petty-humour’ lovers. “Yahi influencers ki reels jab aapke feed pe aati hai and they tell you how to save thousands and lakhs of rupees on your flights and hotels, you are the first one to bookmark it and share it among your friends and family. Thereafter, saying they have no influence and impact on your life is just HYPOCRISY!,” says Viraj.
He also highlighted the media’s blunder saying, “The easiest headline for an incident like this can be ‘Travel influencer falls to death while making a reel.’ Although there is no truth to the fact that she was making a reel, she just slipped. We could all be better people, respect the deceased, and have empathy for her friends and family.”
Appreciate The Fragility Of Life
A situation like this reminds us how fragile life can be. Don’t take it for granted, for it can change in an instant. Remember, a single misstep can have irreversible consequences. While the season calls for a fun trip, please be very careful of slippery surfaces and dangerous locations. Let’s cherish and honor the beauty of nature, and not risk our lives for anything. Nothing is worth putting your life in danger.
Aanvi’s dedication to her craft and her vibrant personality will be fondly remembered by her followers and the online community. May her soul rest in peace. And let’s all learn to be more sensitive and responsible humans.
