Parents of Tripura girl found dead in Yamuna had shifted to Delhi for daughters' higher education

The parents of Sneha Debanth, whose body was found in Yamuna River in Delhi nearly a week after she went missing, had shifted to the national capital for better higher education for their two daughters.

The 19-year-old, who originally hailed from Sabroom in Tripura, was studying at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College under Delhi University.

She went missing on July 7. Following the intervention of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, a massive search operation was launched and her body was retrieved from the river by Delhi Police and NDRF on Sunday.

The incident has left the parents shattered and speechless.

Pritish Debnath, the deceased's father, was overcome with emotion and could not speak when PTI contacted him.

"I can't say anything now... I am not in a position to talk to anybody about what is going on in my mind," he said.

The former army personnel, who hailed from Bhuratali village in Sabroom subdivision of South Tripura, shifted base to Delhi so that his two daughters – Bipasa and Sneha – got the best possible education.

While elder daughter Bipasa is pursuing masters in Mathematics, Sneha was in the second year in the college.

"My uncle, who was living in a flat in Delhi's Saket area, was planning to return to his native place Buratali after the completion of higher studies of his two daughters," Ashim Debnath, a cousin of the deceased told PTI from Sabroom.

"We are devastated, shocked and speechless by the death of Sneha who went to Delhi for a bright career. My uncle, with whom I spoke on Sunday night, was deeply shattered by the tragic death of his younger daughter," he added.

The CM, meanwhile, expressed grief over the death of Debnath, and said that the initial investigation revealed that she died by suicide.

"I express my grief over her death, and my sympathy is with the bereaved family. I ask the authority of Tripura Bhavan, New Delhi to render all possible help to the family," the CM said in a post on X on Sunday.

"Initial investigation reveals that she died by suicide by jumping into the river. A full-fledged probe is underway to know the reason behind the incident," he said.