A heartbreaking chapter closed on Sunday as the body of Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old student from Tripura who had been missing for six days, was recovered from the Yamuna River near Geeta Colony in East Delhi. A second-year B.Sc. Mathematics student at Delhi University’s Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, Sneha had vanished on July 7, prompting a massive search operation across the city and its riverbanks.Originally from Tripura, Sneha was living with her family in Delhi’s Paryavaran Complex. According to a complaint filed by her sister, Bipasha Debnath, Sneha had left home early that morning to drop her friend Pitunia at the Sarai Rohilla Railway Station. She reportedly boarded a cab around 5:15 a.m., driven by a man identified as Subhe Chandra. However, by 8:45 a.m., her phone was unreachable, raising alarm within the family. When contacted, Pitunia confirmed that Sneha had never arrived to meet her. The cab driver later told the family that he had dropped Sneha off at Signature Bridge in Wazirabad. Shortly after, the family found a handwritten note, suggesting she may have been contemplating suicide.
Despite obtaining CCTV footage from the area, authorities were unable to trace Sneha’s movements after she exited the vehicle, as surveillance coverage near the bridge was limited. In the following days, Delhi Police, with assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), combed a seven-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna, from Nigam Bodh Ghat to Noida, in a joint rescue and search operation.While early searches yielded no success, eyewitnesses later reported seeing a young woman standing alone on the Signature Bridge that morning, further fueling concerns of a possible suicide. On July 13, Sneha’s body was discovered near Geeta Colony and later identified by her grieving family. Reacting to the tragic news, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha expressed deep sorrow and assured that his office had been in close contact with Delhi authorities. “This is a devastating loss. I have directed Tripura Bhawan to extend all necessary support, including legal assistance, to the family,” he said. He also emphasized the need for a full and impartial investigation into the matter.
Tipra Motha chairman Pradyot Manikya Debbarma also offered his condolences to Sneha’s loved ones, urging the public to refrain from speculation and allow the investigation to take its course. “This is a moment of grief, and we must all support the family in their time of sorrow,” he said in a statement. Though initial findings point toward suicide, Delhi Police have not ruled out other possibilities. Authorities confirmed that a detailed investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding her death.
