Delhi Police recovered the body of Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old Delhi University student missing since July 7, 2025, from the Yamuna River near Geeta Colony flyover on July 13, 2025. The case involves non-functional CCTV cameras at Signature Bridge, where Sneha was last seen, and jurisdictional issues among Delhi police stations.
Sneha Debnath, a mathematics undergraduate at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, from Sabroom, South Tripura, and residing in Paryavaran Complex, South Delhi, left home on July 7, 2025, at around 6am in the morning. She informed her mother she would accompany a friend, Pitunia, to Sarai Rohilla railway station. Pitunia later confirmed no meeting took place. A cab driver reported dropping Sneha near Signature Bridge around the same time. Her phone stopped working by 8:45 AM on July 7, 2025. A handwritten note found in her room indicated her intent to jump from the bridge.
Delhi Police, with assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), conducted a search operation covering a 7-kilometer radius around Signature Bridge, from Nigam Bodh Ghat to Noida. On July 9, 2025, police filed an FIR at Mehrauli Police Station, two days after Sneha’s disappearance. Authorities located Sneha’s body 10 kilometers downstream on July 13, 2025, and sent it for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Sneha’s family, including her father, retired Subedar Major (Hon.) Lt. Pritish Debnath, who undergoes dialysis for chronic kidney failure, reported that none of the 60-plus CCTV cameras at Signature Bridge, except a speed-monitoring camera capturing still images of fast-moving vehicles, were operational. The family noted jurisdictional issues, as the bridge falls under multiple police stations, which delayed the response.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha directed state police and Tripura Bhavan in Delhi to assist in the search and support the family. On July 13, 2025, the Chief Minister’s Office posted on social media, requesting action and expressing condolences after the body was found. Delhi University Students’ Union president Ronak Khatri contacted Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for assistance before the recovery.
Police traced Sneha’s movements using technical surveillance and eyewitness accounts, confirming her presence at Signature Bridge on July 7, 2025. Authorities are investigating a cab driver’s statement and a phone call Sneha received minutes before the drop-off, with details of the call undisclosed. Sneha’s family and friends stated she showed no signs of depression, with her mother, Pinki Debnath, describing her as a bright and ambitious student. Bipasha Debnath, Sneha’s sister, questioned the four-line suicide note, which lacked specific reasons for distress.
X users, including @thenewsdrill and @CNNnews18, posted about the lack of CCTV footage and requested information from the public. The case prompted discussions about surveillance systems at Signature Bridge and jurisdictional protocols for missing persons cases.
Police continue to investigate the absence of operational CCTV cameras at Signature Bridge and the jurisdictional overlap among four to five police stations. Sneha’s family requested accountability from Delhi Police and the government, stating that functional cameras could have provided clues. Authorities are examining Sneha’s final hours on July 7, 2025, including the phone call and her state of mind. (Rh/Eth/RS)
