A former NITI Ayog employee pursuing PhD in London, Cheistha Kochhar, got killed in a road accident in London. Former NITI Ayog CEO Amitabh Kant condoled her death and said Kochhar was bright, brilliant and brave.
The 33-year-old hailing from Gurgaon was pursuing PhD at the London School of Economics and she was cycling along with her husband Prashant when she got killed in the accident on March 19. According to reports, she was cycling back home with her husband when a garbage truck hit her. Prashant, who was cycling a few yards ahead of her rushed to Cheistha’s rescue when he heard a loud thud, however, she died on the spot.
Kochhar’s father Dr S.P. Kochhar was 23rd Signal Officer-in-Chief of the Indian Army and he has rushed to the UK to collect her mortal remains. “Her good nature was infectious. She was popular and helpful and made a mark for herself at a young age. She was a nationalist. She was very clear in her mind she would get educated in the UK and then go back to India,” he told TOI.
Condoling her death, Amitabh Kant tweeted, “Cheistha Kochar worked with me on the #LIFE programme in @NITIAayog. 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 & brave and always full of life. Gone away too early. RIP.”
