Delhi model's death in Kerala quarry raises questions

The death of Delhi-based model Divyanshu Joshi during a location recce, for fashion label Kartik Research, at an abandoned quarry in Kerala has sparked fresh questions about safety oversight on production shoots. According to local officials, the quarry had been shut for more than 20 years after multiple fatalities; no permission was obtained to access the site, and the area lacked basic safety precautions despite its known risks. Meanwhile, the brand maintains
that inaccurate accounts of the event have been circulating online.

They had come to inspect the location, and the shoot was scheduled for the next day: Grama Panchayat
According to Shaimy Varghese, President of the Mudakkuzha Grama Panchayat, no permission was sought to conduct a shoot at the quarry, which has remained closed for more than two decades. “No permission was sought from us to conduct a shoot at the quarry. It has been closed for over 20 years. A gate was installed in 2017 after a few deaths were reported there. The land belongs to the Revenue Department, and we only manage the gate through a person assigned to oversee it,” Varghese said.

According to reports, at least three people had passed away in the Pettamala stone quarry in 2017. Varghese added, “The gate was found open, but we are not sure how it was opened; it may have been forced open. From what I understand based on conversations that day, they had come to inspect the location, and the shoot was scheduled for the next day.”
“The water body is relatively shallow along the edge, but it becomes extremely deep further inside. Locals are aware of this. Reportedly, they saw someone bathing there and then entered the water themselves,” he added.

There used to be a locked gate here but now people frequent the area to hang out: Police
Kodanad Police Station SHO Sarin AS said the area, which consists of several abandoned quarries, lacks basic safety measures and warning signs despite being accident-prone. Sarin explained, “This area is located about 30 kms north of Kochi and comprises several abandoned quarries. There used to be a gate, which was locked earlier, but now people frequent the area to hang out,” adding, “It can be an accident-prone area, but there are no safety precautions or warning signboards.
Locals wash clothes in some sections. At present, we have statements from two people who were at the spot during the incident. They were taking videos when he entered the water to swim.” Local police could not confirm reports that founder Kartik Kumra entered the water to search for Joshi, stating, “It is not clear if anyone jumped in to rescue him. The Fire and Rescue Services later recovered the body from the quarry pool.”

According to local authorities, entry into the abandoned quarry is not permitted without prior permission. However, officials acknowledged that people do enter the area without authorisation from time to time. They noted that the region has a mix of abandoned government-owned
quarries and privately owned quarry lands. Authorities stressed that, in principle, members of the public – whether local residents or outsiders – are not supposed to enter restricted quarry areas without the necessary permission, even though unauthorised visits do occur.

Brand says they visited site for recce, not a shoot
According to the FIR, Joshi had travelled to Kerala for an advertisement shoot. In an email to The Voice of Fashion, Kartik Research said the team had completed a shoot in Kochi before traveling to the quarry for a location recce, and that no filming took place at the site. The statement added that founder Kartik Kumra and the campaign director were present, and that the team had checked with Joshi and confirmed that he could swim. The quarry was not a confirmed shooting location, no filming activity was taking place there, and no production setup or shoot had commenced at the site.
As per sources, Joshi supposedly entered the water, came out, and, subsequently, re-entered. Unfortunately, he apparently slipped into a deeper portion of the quarry at this point. A police complaint was filed by Rajeev Neelakantan of Kochi-based Rubberband Productions, the local production company engaged for the assignment, as per Mint Lounge.

Inaccurate accounts of this tragedy continue to circulate: Kartik Research
Meanwhile, Kartik Research issued a clarification, stating that Divyanshu was in Kerala for a seasonal photo shoot and was not engaged in any swimming-related activity as part of the production. “For the past two years, Divyanshu led our Delhi store with warmth, dedication, and generosity... As inaccurate accounts of this tragedy continue to circulate, we wish to clarify that Divyanshu was in Kerala as part of a seasonal photo shoot and was not participating in any swimming-related activity as part of the production. Some public reports have mischaracterised the circumstances of the incident.” The post further stated, “We are sharing this clarification so that the focus remains on honouring his life and memory. We will not be making any further public comment and ask that the privacy of those close to him be respected at this difficult time.”

About Kartik Research
Kartik Research (formerly Karu Research) is a contemporary menswear and craft-focused
fashion label founded by designer Kartik Kumra in 2021. The brand is based in Delhi and New York. The label made its official runway debut at Paris Men’s Fashion Week in July 2024. The brand was a semi-finalist at the LVMH Prize in both 2023 and 2026. Public figures like Lewis Hamilton, Paul Mescal and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani have worn the brand’s creations.

Inputs by Anna Mathhews, Sara Siddiqui Compiled by Abhradip Das and Eshna Bhattacharya