Chesitha Kochhar, a 33-year-old Indian student pursuing her PhD at the London School of Economics, met with a fatal accident last week when she was struck by a garbage truck while cycling back home in London.
Kochhar, who had previously worked with the public policy think-tank NITI Aayog, was remembered by Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog, in an online post. Kant expressed his sorrow at her untimely demise, highlighting Kochhar’s intelligence, bravery, and vivacity.
The tragic incident occurred on March 19, when Kochhar was hit by a garbage truck while cycling. Her husband, Prashant, who was ahead of her, rushed to her aid but unfortunately, Kochhar succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
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… pic.twitter.com/7WyyklhsTA— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) March 23, 2024
Lt Gen SP Kochhar (retired), Kochhar’s father, who is currently in London to repatriate her remains, shared his grief on LinkedIn, inviting testimonials and memories in honor of his daughter.
Originally from Gurugram, Kochhar relocated to London in September to pursue her PhD in organizational behavior management at the London School of Economics. Prior to this, she had studied at esteemed institutions such as Delhi University, Ashoka University, and the Universities of Pennsylvania and Chicago.
Kochhar’s professional journey included serving as a senior advisor at the National Behavioural Insights Unit of India at NITI Aayog from 2021 to 2023, as per her LinkedIn profile.
The sudden loss of Kochhar has deeply saddened her family, friends, and colleagues, leaving behind cherished memories of her vibrant spirit and dedication to her academic and professional pursuits.
