Indian student in London, cycling back home, dies after being run over by truck

Mangalore Today News Network/News18

New Delhi, Mar 25, 2024: An Indian student pursuing her PhD at the London School of Economics was killed in a bicycle accident on March 19. Cheistha Kochhar, 33, who hailed from Gurgaon, died after being hit by a lorry while returning to her home in the English capital.

Her husband was cycling a few meters ahead of her when the incident happened. Despite efforts from police and paramedics, Cheistha passed away at the scene, according to The Times of India. The newspaper said the driver of the lorry involved, believed to be a garbage vehicle, cooperated with authorities during the investigation. No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing.

‘Gone too soon’

“My super talented and super special friend @cheisthakochhar was meant to be a newsmaker of a different kind. Terrible tragedy. Gone too soon…,” Cheistha’s friend Prasanna Karthik said in a social media post on X.

Born in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, Cheistha moved to London in September to pursue a Ph.D. in organisational behaviour management on a full scholarship. Before her studies, she worked at NITI Aayog and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Cheistha was known for her intelligence and hard work.

“I have known Cheistha since 2010, when she worked with the founding team of Aadhaar, and have been in touch with her since. Cheistha has consistently displayed a strong work ethic, a meticulous approach and an infectious cheer. She has a knack to get things done quickly without compromising on details,” said Dr. RS Sharma, former Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in a LinkedIn endorsement of Cheistha, before her tragic demise.