In a tragic incident, a former NITI Aayog employee who was pursuing her PhD at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has lost her life in a road accident. The accident occurred as she was cycling back to her home from the university. The victim, Cheistha Kochhar, 33, was engaged in doctoral studies in behavioural research since relocating to London from Gurugram, Haryana, the previous year.

The community has been expressing profound sorrow and paying tribute to Kochhar, described as bright, brilliant, and brave, especially after her father announced the devastating news of her demise online. However, the Metropolitan Police have not officially disclosed the victim's identity and are calling on any witnesses of the heart-wrenching collision to come forward. The mishap happened on Clerkenwell Road, near the junction with Farringdon Road, on the evening of March 19.

Upon receiving the report of the accident, police officers and London Ambulance Service paramedics rushed to the site. They discovered a 33-year-old woman critically injured. Despite the relentless efforts of the emergency teams, she was pronounced dead at the location. The authorities have notified her immediate family members, according to the Met Police's statement. The lorry involved, which is suspected to be a garbage truck, remained at the accident scene, and the driver is currently cooperating with the police investigation. As of now, no arrests have been made, but the police are diligently working to understand the full context of the incident.

The police are urging anyone who might have witnessed the accident or possess dashcam footage that could shed light on the sequence of events to get in touch with the Met Police. This effort to gather more information is crucial for piecing together the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event, aiming to provide clarity and possibly prevent future tragedies.

The tragic loss of Cheistha Kochar has touched many hearts, including that of Mr. Amitabh Kant, who expressed his sorrow and shared memories on the social media platform X. He stated, "Cheistha Kochar worked with me on the #LIFE programme in @NITIAayog. She was in the #Nudge unit and had gone to do her Ph.D in behavioural science at #LSE. Passed away in a terrible traffic incident while cycling in London. She was bright, brilliant & brave and always full of life. Gone away too early. RIP." This tribute not only mourns the loss of Cheistha but also celebrates the vibrancy and impact she had on those around her.

Prior to this tragic event, Kochhar had contributed significantly as a Senior Advisor at the National Behavioural Insights Unit of India for nearly two years until April of the previous year. Following her tenure there, she relocated to London with her husband, Prashant Gautam, a software engineer, to further her studies in behavioral science at LSE.

The heartache of this loss was also conveyed by her father, Lieutenant General Dr S P Kochhar, Director General at the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), who is in London to manage the aftermath of his daughter's death. He shared on LinkedIn, "I am still in London trying to collect the remains of my daughter, Cheistha Kochhar. She was run over by a truck on 19 Mar while cycling back from LSE, where she was doing her PhD. It has devastated us and her large circle of friends." Alongside his message, he provided a link to an online memorial page, encouraging those who knew Cheistha to post their testimonials and memories, highlighting the broad impact of her life and work.

The memorial page dedicated to Cheistha Kochar starts with a powerful quote from her, "What we create should last longer than we do," setting the tone for the heartfelt tributes that follow. Her friends and family describe her as an exceptional student and an incredible person whose presence, though brief, left an indelible mark on everyone she encountered. One tribute highlights her unique blend of skills and qualities, saying, "Be it her research acumen combined with practical relevance, uncanny foresight and high-level thinking combined with down-to-earth humility and helping nature, she was one of a kind, and always will be. Om Shanthi."

Cheistha was born in Bareilly and took a notable academic journey, starting from Delhi and various Army schools across India to prestigious institutions like Ashoka University, Delhi University, and the University of Chicago, where she earned her Masters. Her father reminisced about how she left a lasting impression at every stage of her academic and extracurricular journey, praised for her creativity, spontaneity, compassion, and excellence in academics and activities such as debating, drawing, and dramatics.

Last September, Cheistha, previously residing in Gurugram, took a significant step in her career by moving to London to pursue a PhD in organizational behaviour management at the London School of Economics. Her academic path was diverse and rich, including studies at Delhi University, Ashoka University, and the Universities of Pennsylvania and Chicago.

During 2021-23, she also made impactful contributions as a senior advisor at the National Behavioural Insights Unit of India at NITI Aayog, as her LinkedIn profile showcases.

UK Police Share Family Tribute To Indian PhD Student Killed In London

A week after the tragic incident, the UK police have not made any arrests. They continue to investigate the crash's circumstances and urge witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage from the scene to come forward.

The police described the accident, stating, "Cheistha was cycling when she was involved in a collision with a refuse lorry – the lorry stopped at the scene and the driver is helping police with their enquiries. There has been no arrest and enquiries into the circumstances continue." This highlights the ongoing effort to understand the details of the unfortunate event.

In a heartfelt statement from Cheistha Kochhar's family, released by the police, her remarkable qualities were celebrated. "She always had a hug to spare for anyone and she lived her life with the principle that it was more important to be the kindest person in the room, than to be the smartest person in the room. In the short span she had on this planet, she touched tens of thousands of people in extremely meaningful ways and the magnitude of this loss is incomprehensible," reads the family's tribute, underscoring her profound impact on those around her.

Moreover, Cheistha's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to making a difference were evident through her initiatives. "She had also started a couple of Start-Ups, first as an undergraduate to distribute excess food from college canteens to the needy and later to create opportunities for the unemployed underprivileged section of the New Delhi society. She also worked with McKinsey and the University of Chicago and last worked at NITI Aayog of India (formerly Planning Commission), where she established the National Behavioural Insights Unit of India as a Senior Advisor. All this happened before she turned 32," the statement concluded, highlighting her significant contributions and the profound loss felt by many.