Freak accident: Indian PhD student in London dies after being hit by garbage truck while cycling home

An Indian student died after being hit by a garbage truck while cycling on the streets of London last week.The victim, identified as 33-year-old Cheistha Kochhar, was pursuing a PhD at the London School of Economics (LSE).

Kochhar, who passed away in London,had previously worked with NITI Aayog, thepublic policy think tank of the Government of India. She was enrolled in a PhD programme in Behavioural Science at LSE. She was the daughter of retired Lieutenant General Dr SP Kochhar, who servedas the Director General at the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant posted the news of Kochhar's death on X (formerly Twitter).

"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," hispost read.

What happened on March 19?

Kochhar was hitby the garbage truck on March 19 while riding her bicycle home. Her husband, who was cycling ahead of her at the time of the accident, hurriedly took her to the hospital, but she could not be saved.

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Her father, retired Lieutenant General Dr SP Kochhar, wrote an emotional LinkedIn post remembering his daughter.

“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," he wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)