Delhi University Student Sneha Debnath Found Dead in Yamuna, Family Says She Was an Overachiever
New Delhi-The body of twenty-year-old Delhi University student Sneha Debnath was recovered from the Yamuna River near Signature Bridge on Saturday, startling and saddening people across the city. Police pulled the remains from the water after relatives reported her missing several days earlier.
Sneha had come to the national capital from Tripura for university studies and was living away from home for the first time. Family members describe her as an overachiever who seldom struggled in class and show no prior signs of mental distress.
The Delhi Police are conducting a thorough inquiry into her death. Although early signs point to suicide, investigators say they will withhold a final conclusion until the autopsy report is complete. Forensics teams have already examined the riverbank, and her body has been sent for routine medical and chemical testing.
Sneha’s father, speaking to reporters, said he still could not understand why his daughter was gone and felt a deep ache over the loss. She lived intensely, juggling study sessions and part-time work. “Sneha was the kind of kid who planned her week around revision schedules; she wanted to be an engineer and talked about that every day,” he recalled. “We simply cannot believe she chose to hurt herself.”
Other relatives echoed that disbelief. They pointed out that only two days earlier she had laughed over a video call and seemed in good spirits, telling her younger brother about the books she planned to tackle during the semester break. “A week ago she topped a mock test, and the teachers were praising her again. That girl was always writing in her planner, not in pain,” her mother said. “Honours student, National Merit winner, full of plans-she had everything that should make all of us proud.”
That confidence, however, hid beneath the surface when news of her death spread, stoking fears across campus. Parents flooded group chats warning each other about safety, while Sneha’s friends created hashtag campaigns demanding transparent investigations. Student unions from nearby colleges pressured Delhi Police to sift through digital evidence and interview campus counsellors. Many young women outright refused to leave dorms until officials issued clear rules on visitor screenings and late-night travel.
Preliminary police reports showed that on the day she vanished, Sneha walked away from her rented room in Burari without telling her flatmates where she was going. Officers later learned her last recorded location was a quiet park six kilometres away, after which her phone switched off for twenty-four hours. Neither her laptop, wallet, keys, nor the distinctive red messenger bag she always carried were found beside her body, and so far detectives have not uncovered a written goodbye.
The Delhi Commission for Women has taken notice of Snehas killing, ordering the police to submit a full account of their investigative steps. Chairperson Swati Maliwal sent her condolences to the bereaved family and stressed that keeping school-age girls safe in the capital must come first.
In a show of solidarity, students from Delhi University held a candle-light vigil for their late friend. Many peers recalled her intelligence and generosity. One classmate remarked, She was the hardest worker in our group. Losing her cuts deep for all of us.
While police proceed, the family asks reporters and the public to honour their grief by avoiding intrusive speculation and by focusing instead on securing justice. Should there be no discernible progress within days, they intend to petition senior officials directly.
Snehas death has, yet again, shone a grim spotlight on the emotional and academic pressures that urban students, especially those relocating from smaller towns, must bear alone. Officials promise to pursue every lead. They caution, however, that premature conclusions will be avoided until solid evidence emerges.
