Tripura student, missing for 6 days, found dead in Yamuna
What's the story
The body of Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old student of Delhi University, was recovered from the Yamuna River on Sunday evening. Debnath had been missing since July 7. Her family identified the body near the Geeta Colony flyover, about 10km from where she was last seen at Signature Bridge. Debnath, a student at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College from Tripura, had been missing since she went to drop a friend at Sarai Rohilla, but her friend confirmed they did not meet.
Investigation details
Note suggests she intended to die by suicide
Police said Debnath left a handwritten note suggesting she intended to die by suicide. The cab driver and eyewitnesses corroborated her presence on the bridge before she vanished. The letter reportedly states that she had planned to "end my life" by jumping off the Signature Bridge. It adds, "I just feel like a failure and burden, and it was getting unbearable to live like this." The note also mentions there was "no foul play" involved and it was "my decision."
Search efforts
Search operation stretched from Nigam Bodh Ghat to Noida
After Debnath was reported missing, her family filed a complaint at the Mehrauli Police Station. An extensive search operation was launched with the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local police. The search stretched from Nigam Bodh Ghat to Noida in Uttar Pradesh before her body was found floating in the Yamuna.
Mental health and surveillance
'CCTV cameras at Signature Bridge were non-functional'
According to police, Debnath had sent emails and messages to close friends on July 7, indicating she had been emotionally distressed for months. Her family said Debnath went to Sarai Rohilla railway station to drop off a friend. However, when her phone remained unreachable after three hours, the family contacted her friend, who informed them that she had not seen Sneha as planned.
Family
Non-functional CCTV cameras hampers probe
Later, the family tracked down a cab driver, who confirmed that he had dropped her off near Delhi's Signature Bridge, an area known for poor safety concerns and CCTV coverage. Her family and friends raised concerns over the non-functional CCTV cameras at the Signature Bridge during this time. They alleged that none of the surveillance infrastructure in place was operational when she went missing.
Helpline
Please seek help if you're having suicidal thoughts
If you or anyone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts, you can reach out to AASRA for suicide prevention counseling. Its number is 022-27546669 (24 hours). You can also dial Roshni NGO at +914066202000 or COOJ at +91-83222-52525. Sneha India Foundation, which works 24x7, can be contacted at +91-44246-40050, while Vandrevala Foundation's helpline number is +91-99996-66555 (call and WhatsApp).