Anunay Sood, the smiling face behind countless travel reels that made people pack their bags and dream bigger, is no more. The popular travel influencer and photographer passed away in Las Vegas, USA. His family confirmed the news on Thursday through a statement on his official Instagram handle.
The cause of his death is still unknown, but reports say Anunay had returned to his hotel room after a video shoot and went to sleep never to wake up again. His team tried to wake him up the next morning. When he didn’t respond, he was rushed to a hospital. Doctors declared him dead on arrival.
His family, in a brief emotional note, wrote, “It is with deep sadness that we share the news of our beloved Anunay Sood’s passing. We kindly ask for your understanding and privacy as we navigate this difficult time. Please keep his family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. May his soul rest in peace.”
Anunay had been active on social media just two days ago. His last post came from Wynn Las Vegas, where he shared a carousel of sleek luxury cars with the caption: “Still can’t believe I spent the weekend surrounded by legends and dream machines. Which one would you take for a spin??”
Based in Noida, he had built his journey from scratch, armed only with a camera, a backpack.
Also Read: Pankaj Tripathi’s mother, Hemwanti Devi, passes away; actor grieves quietly in Bihar
He had over 1.4 million followers on Instagram and thousands more on YouTube. His collaborations with National Geographic India, Condé Nast Traveller, and Lonely Planet India spoke volumes about his growing influence.
He was the youngest of three siblings in a close-knit family from Noida. His father, Rahul Sood, is a retired engineer from BHEL, and his mother, who was in Dubai when the tragedy occurred, is now returning home. His two elder sisters are married, and the family is going to bring his body back to India within a week.
A security guard at their Noida home told local media that the news has left everyone in shock. “He was such a humble person. No one can believe this,” he said.