In a tragic incident, 33-year-old Cheistha Kochhar, a former employee of NITI Aayog and a PhD student at the London School of Economics, lost her life in a freak accident in London last week. Kochhar, who had been pursuing her doctoral studies in behavioral science, was struck by a garbage truck while cycling back to her residence.
The news of Kochhar’s untimely demise was shared by Amitabh Kant, the former CEO of NITI Aayog, who expressed deep sorrow and condolences in an online post. Kant remembered Kochhar’s contributions during her tenure at NITI Aayog, highlighting her intelligence, bravery, and zest for life.
“Cheistha Kochhar worked with me on the #LIFE programme in @NITIAayog. She was in the #Nudge unit and had gone to do her Ph.D. in behavioral 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,” wrote Mr. Kant.
The tragic incident occurred on March 19 when Kochhar was hit by a garbage truck while cycling, with her husband, Prashant, witnessing the accident and rushing to her aid. Despite immediate efforts, Kochhar succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Lt Gen SP Kochhar (retired), Kochhar’s father, currently in London to arrange for her repatriation, shared his grief on LinkedIn, inviting friends and acquaintances to share testimonials and memories of his daughter.
“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,” wrote Lt Gen Kochhar.
Kochhar, who had previously resided in Gurugram, had relocated to London in September to pursue her PhD in organizational behavior management at the London School of Economics. Her academic journey included stints at Delhi University, Ashoka University, and prestigious institutions in the United States.
She had also served as a senior advisor at the National Behavioral Insights Unit of India at NITI Aayog from 2021 to 2023, according to her LinkedIn profile.
The sudden loss of Cheistha Kochhar has left her family, friends, and colleagues in shock, highlighting the fragility of life and the profound impact she had made in her academic and professional endeavors.
Sources By Agencies
