A 27-year-old digital content creator in Jharkhand’s Garhwa district set fire to his home-based video editing studio on Tuesday night following a prolonged struggle to gain a following on YouTube, and some family dispute.
Vidhayak Prajapati, who runs a YouTube channel, Powerful Legend, destroyed his professional equipment and nearly trapped his family members inside the burning residence.
Local police and neighbours intervened to rescue the family from the smoke-filled house after Prajapati locked the premises from the inside.
Prajapati had built the modern studio by selling ancestral land, hoping to find financial stability and fame through the creator economy.
He focused on video production and editing, but neighbours reported that he had become increasingly reclusive after his content failed to gain significant traction.
The fire broke out around 10:30 PM when Prajapati reportedly ignited the studio while his family was in an adjacent section of the home. The family was unable to escape through the main exit because an iron door had been locked from the inside.
Neighbours alerted the Meral police, who arrived at the scene and broke through a side wall to pull the trapped family members to safety.
During the chaos of the rescue operation, Prajapati reportedly fled the scene by jumping over a rear wall of the property. The blaze resulted in the total loss of expensive cameras, high-end computers, monitors, professional lighting, and sound systems.
The total financial damage is estimated at more than ₹10 lakh, a significant blow to a family that had already liquidated assets to fund the venture.
Family members located Prajapati the following morning and have since transported him to Ranchi for psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Relatives stated that the creator had fallen into a deep depression due to the immense pressure of succeeding in the competitive digital landscape.
Prajapati’s struggle serves as a grim reminder for aspiring creators that YouTube and social media are not automatic money-printing machines.
Industry experts warn that expecting immediate earnings upon starting a channel is unrealistic, as the platform requires immense patience and hard work.
Success in the creator economy is never guaranteed, and most creators must wait for a very long time before seeing any financial return.
Setting high expectations early on can lead to severe burnout or mental health crises when the algorithm does not favour new content.
The incident in Garhwa has sparked local discussions about the need for better support systems for young people pursuing non-traditional digital careers. Local authorities are currently monitoring the situation as the family appeals for financial assistance to recover from the loss of their home and livelihood.
