The tragedy of Divyanshu Joshi and the safety gaps it exposed

On May 28, 26-year-old Delhi-based model Divyanshu Joshi drowned in an abandoned stone quarry at Mudakuzha (Pettamala) in Kerala’s Ernakulam district while on a work trip for a commercial photoshoot. The quarry, inactive for over two decades, was a known hazardous site with a history of drowning incidents. According to police, Divyanshu and a friend had visited the location a day before the shoot for a recce after coming across aerial videos online. He reportedly entered the water and slipped into a deep spiral section about 30 feet below the surface while being filmed. Authorities later recovered his body, and investigations revealed that no permission had been obtained from the local panchayat to access or shoot at the restricted location.

A pattern of negligence?

A small but troubling set of incidents across India points to recurring safety lapses in fashion shoots and studio environments. In June 2023, 24-year-old model Vanshika Chopra died during a fashion show rehearsal at a Noida studio after a heavy lighting truss collapsed onto the ramp.
Another model was seriously injured. The incident led to a police case and drew criticism over poor equipment safety and the lack of basic structural checks at fashion events.

In February 2026, a three-year-old boy drowned in an artificial water feature at a Bengaluru photo studio while his mother was being photographed for a maternity shoot. The child reportedly slipped into the pool during the session. A case of unnatural death was registered, raising concerns about supervision and safety protocols in studio spaces.

While the circumstances differ, these cases share a pattern with Divyanshu Joshi’s death: visually driven location choices, insufficient risk assessment, and gaps in on-ground safety measures. Such incidents remain sporadic but point to a largely informal ecosystem in which accountability and standardised safety practices are often lacking.

Conflicting accounts emerge
The incident sparked widespread outrage and renewed scrutiny of safety practices in fashion shoots. In an official statement issued on May 31, Kartik Research – the brand Divyanshu was employed with and shooting for, said: “We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear colleague and friend, Divyanshu Joshi…” while maintaining that he “was not participating in any swimming-related activity as part of the production” and that “some public reports have mischaracterised the circumstances.” The brand added it would not comment further.

Claims that founder Kartik Kumra entered the water to search for Joshi were disputed by local police, who stated: “Nobody jumped in the lake after Joshi.” The local administration also reiterated the risks associated with the location. Mudakuzha Grama Panchayat president Shimy Varghese described it as a “death trap,” saying: “The quarry pit is heavily restricted… Even people who are good swimmers can find it difficult,” and confirmed that no official permission had been granted.