19-year-old Instagram content creator dies by suicide during live stream in Chhattisgarh

The 19-year-old was living at her uncle's home, and her parents, who are labourers, were in Hyderabad for work at the time of the incident.

She has over 1,000 followers on Instagram and had uploaded several reels set to Chhattisgarhi songs. Her last video, however, was about heartbreak. (Representational Image: Pexels)

A 19-year-old Instagram content creator died by suicide in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district while live-streaming.

The incident took place at around 7 pm on December 29. According to police, the woman had gone live on her Instagram profile and spoken about heartbreak to the more than dozen people who were watching her stream. She then hanged herself during the live stream, even as her viewers sent messages pleading with her to stop, police said.

One of the followers recorded the live stream. “Her followers can be seen sending her messages asking her to stop, but she did not listen to them,” said a police source.

Some of her followers who knew her called her cousins, who live in a nearby house. The cousins then rushed to her house and broke open the door to enter, police said. They took her to a hospital, where she was declared dead before admission.

“Her phone is locked. We are trying to access it to know what transpired. But in our initial probe, we have learnt that it is a love matter,” the police source said. She did not leave behind a note, the source added.

The 19-year-old was living at her uncle’s home, and her parents, who are labourers, were in Hyderabad for work at the time of the incident.

She has over 1,000 followers on Instagram and had uploaded several reels set to Chhattisgarhi songs. Her last video, however, was about heartbreak.

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Her parents told the police that she had dropped out of college and never discussed about any relationship that she was in.

Jayprakash S Naidu

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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