By: Tarunima Singh
NEW DELHI: The week-long search for Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old Mathematics (Honours) student at Delhi University, ended in tragedy as her body was pulled from the Yamuna River near the Geeta Colony flyover on Sunday evening. Originally from Tripura, Sneha had gone missing on July 7, sparking a massive search operation and questions over police response and safety lapses at Delhi’s Signature Bridge.
On the morning of July 7, Sneha told her mother she was leaving to drop a friend at Sarai Rohilla railway station. However, CCTV and phone tracking later revealed she instead headed to Signature Bridge in north Delhi. Her last phone call was at 5:56 am, after which her mobile was switched off by 8:45 am. Despite efforts, her family did not hear from her again.
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Search Efforts Hindered by Camera Blind Spots
The Signature Bridge, notorious for suicide attempts, had no working CCTV cameras when Sneha arrived there. Her family has criticized Delhi Police for what they called jurisdictional confusion between local police stations and the lack of functional surveillance, which delayed locating her.
Police recovered a short handwritten note from Sneha’s hostel room that hinted at suicide. The note read:
“I just feel like a failure and a burden… I decided to end my life by jumping from Signature Bridge… no foul play… it was my choice.”
However, family members, especially her sister Bipasha Debnath, are unconvinced by the simple explanation. They believe the note raises more questions than answers and have called for a deeper investigation into the circumstances leading to Sneha’s death.
Delayed FIR and Missing Person’s Complaint
Although her family lodged a missing report with Mehrauli Police on July 7, the formal FIR was reportedly registered only on July 9, prompting concerns about procedural lapses. Search teams, including Delhi Police and the NDRF, scoured the Yamuna for nearly a week before recovering Sneha’s body.
Sneha’s father, Pritish Debnath, is a retired Subedar Major undergoing treatment for chronic kidney disease. The family had moved from Tripura to Delhi in hopes of better educational opportunities for their daughters. The news of Sneha’s death has left them devastated. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha extended his condolences and directed state officials to assist the grieving family.
Public Outcry and Safety Concerns
The case has reignited concerns about the Signature Bridge’s reputation as a suicide hotspot and the glaring absence of CCTV coverage. Safety advocates and citizens are demanding urgent measures to prevent such incidents in the future, including better surveillance, dedicated policing in the area, and swift action on missing person reports.
While police maintain that preliminary evidence suggests suicide, they are continuing with forensic analysis and digital evidence collection. Friends of Sneha have reportedly shared that she had been emotionally distressed in recent months. The family, however, remains adamant that more transparency is needed in the probe and have called for accountability from the authorities
