An Indian student lost her life last week in London after being struck by a truck while cycling back to her apartment, according to a social media update from former CEO of Niti Aayog, Amitabh Kant and reported by ANI. 

Identified as 33-year-old Cheistha Kochhar, she was pursuing her PhD in Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics, as stated by her father, retired Lieutenant General Dr SP Kochhar, in a LinkedIn post.

Kochhar, who had previously contributed to NITI Aayog, was remembered by Amitabh Kant for her involvement in the LIFE programme. Kant described her as a vibrant individual, full of brightness, brilliance and bravery.

“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,” he wrote on X. 

Mission LiFE stands as an initiative led by India, aiming to galvanise widespread individual and community efforts towards environmental protection and conservation.

Retired Lieutenant General Kochhar said that he is still in London and trying to collect the remains of his daughter, Cheistha Kocchar.

In a post on LinkedIn, Lieutenant General Kochhar stated, “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.”

According to her LinkedIn profile, Cheistha had been pursuing her doctoral studies at the LSE since September of the previous year. Before that, she served as a Senior Advisor in India’s National Behavioural Insights Unit at Niti Aayog from June 2021 to April 2023. Prior to her role at Niti Aayog, she held the position of Associate Director at the Centre for Social and Behaviour Change.

Her academic journey included studies at Delhi University, Ashoka University, as well as the Universities of Pennsylvania and Chicago.

With inputs from ANI.