New Delhi | July 14, 2025 : The body of a 21-year-old Delhi University student, Sneha Debnath, who had been missing for six days, was recovered from the Yamuna River on Sunday, sending shockwaves across the student community and raising serious questions about campus safety and police response.

Sneha, a resident of Tripura, had moved to Delhi to pursue her undergraduate studies and was enrolled at a reputed North Campus college. She was last seen on July 8, according to her hostel mates, after she left for a walk near the Civil Lines area. When she failed to return and her phone was found switched off, her friends raised an alarm and filed a missing person complaint with the local police.

Despite multiple search efforts by the authorities and emotional pleas from her family and friends circulated widely on social media, there had been no trace of her until Sunday morning, when a passerby spotted a body floating in the Yamuna near the Old Iron Bridge.

The Delhi Police confirmed that the body was recovered and later identified by Sneha’s family, who had arrived from Tripura soon after her disappearance. “The body has been identified as Sneha Debnath by her family members. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined, and we are awaiting post-mortem results,” a senior police officer told reporters.

The discovery has left her friends and classmates devastated. Many took to social media to express grief and outrage, questioning why more wasn’t done earlier when she was first reported missing. “She was full of life, a brilliant student. We still can’t believe this has happened,” said one of her classmates.

Sneha’s family, visibly distraught, has demanded a thorough investigation. Her father, Subhash Debnath, alleged that there was a delay in initiating a serious search operation. “We kept telling the police that she wouldn’t just disappear. We believe there is more to this, and we need answers,” he said, speaking to media outside the morgue.

The police have not ruled out foul play and are investigating all angles, including whether Sneha may have been under stress or faced any harassment. “We are scanning CCTV footage from around her college, hostel, and the area near the river. Her phone and digital activity records will also be examined as part of the investigation,” the officer added.

This incident adds to growing concerns over safety for students living away from home in the capital. Student organizations and rights groups have already begun calling for more proactive safety measures for university students, especially women from out of state.

As the investigation continues, Delhi University students and citizens alike await answers, hoping that Sneha's tragic end will at least bring greater awareness and accountability to the issue of student safety in India’s largest cities.