YouTuber Sets His ₹10 Lakh Studio Ablaze After Struggling To Gain Followers

A 27-year-old YouTuber in Jharkhand’s Garhwa district allegedly set fire to the studio inside his home on February 7, reportedly after struggling to gain followers on his YouTube channel. Vidhayak Prajapati, who ran a film editing and digital services studio, is believed to have taken the extreme step out of frustration. The blaze destroyed the studio and its equipment, with losses estimated at over ₹10 lakh.

According to neighbours, Prajapati had sold his ancestral property to establish the studio with modern equipment, hoping to build a successful online presence. Despite the significant investment, he failed to attract a substantial following, which reportedly left him distressed. Prakash Kumar Arun, a neighbour and former village head, said Prajapati had become withdrawn over the past week.

The incident occurred around 10 pm when Prajapati allegedly locked himself inside the studio and set it on fire. Thick smoke quickly filled the house, trapping his family behind an iron door bolted from inside. Neighbours alerted the police after hearing screams. Officers broke through a side wall to rescue the family members. Prajapati reportedly fled by jumping over a rear wall. He was later located by his family and taken to a hospital in Ranchi for psychiatric treatment.