Ex-NITI Aayog Employee And PhD Student At LSE Run Over By Truck In London

London: In a heart-wrenching tragedy, a 33-year-old Indian lost her life after being run over by a truck while cycling home in central London recently.

Cheistha Kochar, who earlier worked at NITI Aayog, was pursuing a PhD in Behavioural Science from London School of Economics.

Cheistha was the daughter of retired Lieutenant General Dr SP Kochhar, Director General of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

In an emotional post on LinkedIn, he wrote that he was still in London “trying to collect the remains of my daughter, Cheistha Kochhar.”

“She was run over by a truck on 19 March while cycling back from LSE, where she was doing her PhD. It has devastated us and her large circle of friends. If you have had any memories with her and if you wish to share them, you may do so at the following link. Can be testimonials, photos, videos or stories. You may even share this with others if you desire,” Dr Kochar wrote alongside a link to a memorials page.

The mishap took place around 8.30 pm (local time) last week. When police and paramedics reached the spot, between Farringdon and Clerkenwell, Cheistha was found grievously injured. Despite efforts by emergency services to revive her, Cheistha died at the spot, The London Evening Standard reported quoting Metropolitan Police.

Police officers have appealed to witnesses of the accident to come forward or whoever has dashcam footage of the incident to get in touch.

No arrest has been made in the case so far.

Cheistha had worked with Amitabh Kant, ex-CEO of NITI Aayog.

“Cheistha Kochar worked with me on the #LIFE programme in NITI Aayog. She was in the #Nudge unit and had gone to do her PhD in Behavioural Science at #LSE. Passed away in a terrible traffic incident while cycling in London. She was bright, brilliant and brave and always full of life. Gone away too early. RIP,” Kant wrote in X.