Seema Gurnani, the 26-year-old food blogger from Vijayawada who shot to international fame with her food and travel blog Panda Reviewz, has passed away. After contracting the coronavirus, Seema died on April 4, 2021. She started her blog Panda Reviewz in 2016, and was a well-liked and trusted source of the best cuisines to try in Vijayawada and later the world.
Leena Mathai, a relative of Seema’s, announced the news of her demise on Facebook. “It’s the saddest when your story is left incomplete! Seema Gurnani you were a great food blogger, influencer and owner of Panda Reviewz and cousin sister in-law. Life is so fragile, spend it doing what you love and with the people you care about the most. Take COVID seriously, it can affect anyone! RIP Seema,” read the post.
Seema’s death shocked her friends, loved ones and those who followed her work. One of her friends, Govind Dhiman, wrote on April 5, “Our Seema Gurnani owner of PandaReviewz was suffering from COVID-19. She was asking for prayers from us yesterday and today's my news feed is filled up with so many posts for her. She is no more with us, confirmed from her brother. Bhagwan apki aatma ko shanti de aur apke gharwalo ko himmat de is dukh see bahar niklne ki (May your soul rest in peace and your family members get the strength to bear). Our prayers are with your family Panda.” He also cautioned people against letting their guard down during the pandemic. “Guys please take COVID very seriously because our family can’t bear that loss.”
Seema’s last post on Facebook was on March 11, which was a review of the Trippy Tree Café in Vijayawada. Seema is seen talking about the food and ambience of the café in her video.
Watch Seema’s review here:
When TNM spoke to Seema in 2019, she shared that her love for food and travel inspired her to become one of the first food bloggers in Vijayawada. She turned vegetarian soon after starting Panda Reviewz, and showed people the wide range of vegetarian food that can be enjoyed in the city. Though her reviews were initially limited to Vijayawada, Seema expanded her network to across the country and even other parts of the world, including Malaysia and the US.