Indian PhD student and former NITI Aayog employee dies after being run over by truck in London

Kochar, who passed away in London after an accident last week, had earlier worked at NITI Aayog. She was pursuing a PhD in Behavioural Science from LSE. She was the daughter of retired Lieutenant General Dr SP Kochhar, Director General at Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant posted the news of Kochar’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,” he said.

Cheistha Kochar was hit by a garbage truck on March 19 while she was cycling home. Her husband Prashant, who was cycling ahead of her during the accident, rushed her to the hospital. She could not be saved.

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 on X.

Cheistha Kochchar had moved to London in September 2023, prior to which she resided in Gurugram, Haryana. Ahead of getting admission in LSE, she had completed her studies at Delhi University, Ashoka University, and the Universities of Pennsylvania and Chicago.