Tripura Student Missing in Delhi for a Week: Phone Switched Off, No Bank Activity
News Summary
A 19-year-old Delhi University student from Tripura, Sneha Debnath, has been missing since July 7, 2025, after informing her family she was heading to Sarai Rohilla station with a friend. Her phone has been switched off, there’s been no bank transaction for months, and she left without any belongings. The Delhi Police, aided by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), has conducted an extensive search within a seven-kilometre radius—but so far, no leads have surfaced. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has personally intervened, directing authorities to intensify efforts to locate her.
1. Setting the Scene: When a Young Life Vanishes
Imagine your world flipping upside down in an instant: your daughter leaves home one morning with a promise to call you later—and she never does. That’s the nightmare Sneha’s family is living in right now. Sneha isn’t just any girl; she’s a bright student at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, Delhi University, with dreams bigger than her suitcase. Yet on July 7, she vanished into Delhi’s vast sprawl, leaving behind more questions than answers
2. Who Is Sneha Debnath? Dreams, Aspirations, and a Journey to Delhi
Sneha Debnath, at 19, was the pride of her small hometown, Sabroom in South Tripura. Eyebrows in her family rose when she secured admission to one of Delhi’s reputable colleges—a ticket to a world bursting with opportunity. Her parents, teachers, and friends celebrated her academic streak, envisioning a future where she’d stand on her own two feet, perhaps in journalism, maybe in public service. But on that fateful morning, those dreams were interrupted by silence
3. The Last Words: A 5:56 AM Message That Echoes
At 5:56 AM on July 7, Sneha texted her folks: she’d be heading to Sarai Rohilla station with her friend, Pitunia. A simple plan, or so it seemed. Yet three hours passed with no follow-up call. Panic crept in. The family’s first call to Pitunia revealed she never met Sneha, and the trail went cold—like footprints washed away by a rising tide
4. Empty Pockets and Silent Phones: Red Flags Multiply
Back in Tripura, financial experts might call this “zero liquidity,” but for a worried parent, it’s a red alert. Sneha’s bank account, which saw regular withdrawals to pay for hostel fees and daily expenses, lay dormant for four months. No cash withdrawals. No online transfers. Meanwhile, her phone stayed stubbornly off. In an era when we broadcast every latte selfie, her digital silence is deafening—and deeply unsettling
5. The Cab Ride to Nowhere: CCTV and the Signature Bridge Blind Spot
When Pitunia couldn’t help, Sneha’s family tracked down the cab driver. He confirmed dropping her near Delhi’s Signature Bridge—but that’s where the journey stalled. Urban CCTV coverage, usually our digital watchdog, is patchy at best in that area. It’s like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing: investigators have no visual breadcrumbs past the drop-off point
6. Mobilizing the Search: Delhi Police Meets NDRF
By July 8, the Delhi Police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined hands, fanning out in a seven-kilometre radius from the Signature Bridge. Helicopters scanned rooftops, divers checked waterways, and teams scoured underpasses. Despite months of experience handling disasters and drownings, their grids returned blank results. Every lead felt like chasing smoke—elusive and frustrating
7. Political Pressure Cooker: Tripura’s CM Steps In
Back home, the air was thick with anxiety. When Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha caught wind of Sneha’s disappearance, he put the police on notice. The Chief Minister’s Office took to X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“The report of Miss Sneha Debnath, a resident of Sabroom, who has reportedly gone missing in New Delhi, has come to the notice of the Chief Minister’s Office. Following this, necessary instructions have been promptly issued to the police to take immediate and appropriate action.”
That public nudge wasn’t just political posturing; it was a lifeline for a family drowning in uncertainty.
A Collective Wish: Bring Sneha Back
If words could bring her home, we’d write a million more. But action speaks louder: report sightings, pray earnestly, and urge authorities to leave no stone unturned. As the capital sleeps under monsoon clouds, may someone spot a familiar face, may a CCTV camera finally reveal her path, and may Sneha’s footsteps lead her safely back to Sabroom.
❓ FAQs
Q1: What exactly happened on July 7, 2025?
Sneha Debnath messaged her family at 5:56 AM saying she’d head to Sarai Rohilla station with her friend, then disappeared. Her phone went off and she never reached her friend or home
Q2: Why is there no bank activity for months?
Her family discovered that Sneha’s bank account had zero withdrawals for the past four months, suggesting she wasn’t using it for daily expenses—a red flag in such cases
Q3: What areas have been searched so far?
The Delhi Police and NDRF combed a seven-kilometre radius around the Signature Bridge, including waterways, underpasses, and flyovers—but found no trace
Q4: How can the public help in this search?
Share verified notices, check local CCTV footage, report any sighting to Delhi Police’s missing-person cell, and spread awareness on social media without indulging in rumors.
Q5: Has the Tripura government taken any action?
Yes—Chief Minister Manik Saha intervened, instructing Tripura Police to coordinate with Delhi authorities and accelerate the search operation