New Delhi: Delhi University student Sneha Debnath went missing a week ago. Her phone network was last active at the Signature Bridge, which has a rather unfortunate reputation as a suicide point in the city.
Not a single one of the 15-plus CCTV cameras on the Signature Bridge works. For days, the police had no leads. Jurisdiction was a mess — the bridge is split between two police stations, but even officials weren’t sure if it was two or four. Amid the confusion, Sneha Debnath’s family was left watching hope fade with each passing day.
The body of 19-year-old Sneha Debnath was finally retrieved from the Yamuna River near the Geeta Colony flyover in north Delhi on Sunday.
Several search operations were launched with the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local police units, covering the Yamuna stretch from Nigam Bodh Ghat to Noida to find Sneha’s body. The first search operation was held by the Timarpur police personnel with the help of local divers near the stretch flowing under the bridge. Another search operation was held by the Mehrauli police official and the NDRF team on Wednesday.
However, officials confirmed that her body was seen floating in the river under the Geeta Colony flyover on Sunday during the search operation. The body was later identified by her family members.
“It is unacceptable that in a high-risk area like the Signature Bridge, which is known as a suicide spot — not a single CCTV camera was functioning,” said Bipasha Debnath, Sneha Debnath’s 24-year-old sister.
“The investigation failure or the six-day search doesn’t matter now—everyone is talking about the suicide note, not the lack of safety measures of the bridge.”
“There’s nothing left now,” said Sneha’s cousin, speaking about further investigation of the case.
One of Sneha’s friends present at her Saket residence confirmed that a suicide note was found in her room, in which she expressed to end her life.
“The investigation failure or the six-day search doesn’t matter now—everyone is talking about the suicide note, not the lack of safety measures of the bridge,” she added on the condition of anonymity.
A source at the Mehrauli Police Station also confirmed the discovery of a suicide note and said that the police are still investigating the case from all possible angles.
Sneha’s elder sister, Bipasha, and another cousin had earlier told ThePrint that she was never depressed or stressed about anything. “She was a very introverted but lively person. She was planning to go shopping with me in the evening. She couldn’t have died by suicide—someone must have manipulated her,” said Bipasha.
“We couldn’t find any leads about my missing sister for days because the only concrete form of evidence, video footage, was simply unavailable,” she added.
“We have written several letters to the DCP’s office regarding the non-functioning cameras, but we haven’t received any response yet,” said a senior officer from the Usmanpur Police Station.
Sneha Debnath’s disappearance, the absence of any trace for six days, the non-functional CCTV systems, and the confusion among police over jurisdiction — since the bridge falls under Timarpur Police Station and Usmanpur Police Station, all paint a troubling picture of the state of Delhi’s most modern urban infrastructure—the Signature Bridge.
It was officially inaugurated on 4 November 2018 by then-CM Arvind Kejriwal. Touted as India’s first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge, its design resembles a folded ‘Namaste’ gesture, symbolising Indian culture and modern engineering. Apart from being a striking landmark, the bridge significantly reduced travel time between central and northeast Delhi, cutting commutes from over 45 minutes to just around 10 minutes.
The section of the bridge that falls under the Timarpur Police Station— especially the area beneath it where the Yamuna flows — has become known for frequent suicides. On the other side, under the Usmanpur Police Station’s jurisdiction, chain-snatching and petty thefts are regularly reported. Fatal accidents started taking place on the bridge soon after its inauguration—bikers and motorists were losing control on the sharp curves of the ramps. Despite the bridge’s prominence and popularity as a hangout spot, it lacks functional CCTV cameras — a glaring failure in safety infrastructure.
“We have written several letters to the DCP’s office regarding the non-functioning cameras, but we haven’t received any response yet,” said a senior officer from the Usmanpur Police Station. “The absence of surveillance not only hampers crime prevention but also delays investigations in several cases.”
The missing girl
Sneha Debnath, whose family is from Tripura, was a resident of Paryavaran Complex (Saket) in South Delhi. She was pursuing a B.A. in Mathematics at the University of Delhi’s Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College. She went missing on 7 July. That Monday morning, she last spoke to her family while returning from Sarai Rohilla railway station, where she had gone to drop off a friend.
After calling home around 6 am, her phone was switched off. When the family was unable to reach her for several hours and received no information even after contacting all her friends, they filed a missing persons complaint on 9 July. The FIR was registered at the Mehrauli Police Station because the girl’s family lives in Saket.
“After the FIR was filed, the police began searching the bridge and contacted the Timarpur Police Station. However, the investigation was delayed because none of the CCTV cameras on the entire bridge were functioning,” said a senior investigating officer from Mehrauli Police Station.
The officer added that a breakthrough came when police found CCTV footage near Majnu Ka Tila showing Sneha’s cab heading toward the bridge. The cab driver was traced, and during interrogation, he confirmed that he had dropped her at the Signature Bridge.
However, without any CCTV footage from the bridge, they were unable to determine what occurred after she arrived there. Sneha’s sister accompanied the investigating team throughout and even visited Wazirabad and Timarpur police stations in search of any clues.
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The deadly bridge
“Like many of its other promises, the government has built the Signature Bridge and forgotten about its maintenance,” said an autorickshaw driver
Throughout the day — and often past midnight — a familiar scene plays out on Delhi’s Signature Bridge. Carts selling ice cream, water, and lemonade line up in a row, drawing passersby. Groups of men crowd the iron railings for selfies against the scenic backdrop. Motorbikes stop for a short break before speeding off, while families step out of parked cars to enjoy the view, snap photos, and grab a treat. This restless buzz sometimes lasts until 2 am.
“It’s not just a daytime hangout. People come even late at night, till 1 or 2 AM, to enjoy the city’s night view and have ice cream,” says 26-year-old ice cream vendor Kishan Mohan. “But the crowd used to be bigger earlier,” he added.
The Signature Bridge is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects undertaken by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), with a construction cost of Rs 1,519 crore. It stands as one of India’s longest bridges, stretching 675 metres, with an additional 100-meter extension on the west side. Including the approach roads, the total length of the project spans around 6,000 metres. After multiple delays, the bridge finally opened to the public 14 years after construction began.
“From the top of the bridge, people can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, just like the view from the Eiffel Tower in Paris,” former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said.
The bridge initially featured vibrant light displays and well-maintained street lighting. However, over time, maintenance faltered. First, the CCTV cameras stopped working, then the streetlights and decorative lighting went out and were never repaired.
“Three to four suicide attempts happen on the bridge every year,” said a senior officer from the Timarpur police station
“Most of the lights have gradually stopped working. Sometimes one turns on, sometimes none. Like many of its other promises, the government has built the Signature Bridge and forgotten about its maintenance,” said 40-year-old autorickshaw driver Arjun Kumar, a daily commuter across the bridge.
Regular patrolling is carried out in and around the bridge area by officers from the Usmanpur and Timarpur police stations. The primary goal is to monitor the bridge and maintain law and order.
“Three to four suicide attempts happen on the bridge every year,” said a senior officer from the Timarpur police station, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He added that police officials are always stationed nearby, with divers on standby in the Yamuna River to respond to emergencies.
“It’s very disappointing — Delhi built a futuristic bridge but forgot that the future should also include safety for women and students. There isn’t even a camera to capture anything if someone goes missing or abducted,” said Priyanka Rawat, a Delhi University student, referring to the Sneha Debnath case.
Two months ago, the Usmanpur Police Station installed two more cameras on the bridge alongside an existing one that is non-functional. “Due to electricity issues, they sometimes don’t function properly,” he said.
A senior officer from the Timarpur station told ThePrint that four CCTV cameras installed on their section of the bridge are operational and monitored regularly. But a senior investigating officer from Mehrauli Police Station contradicted this statement.
“We coordinated with the other police stations, but none of the CCTV cameras installed on the bridge are working,” the investigating officer said.
History of Negligence
“More attention is given to aesthetics than to implementing proper safety measures to prevent suicides,” said a police officer on patrol duty.
The low height of the iron railing that runs along the entire edge of the Signature Bridge makes it alarmingly easy for someone to jump into the Yamuna River.
“Every year, two to three — sometimes even more — suicide attempts take place from the bridge,” said Pankaj Tomar, inspector at Timarpur Police Station. “Many lives have been saved with the help of private divers and Timarpur police personnel, who are deployed on the Signature Bridge around the clock.”
In April, a 30-year-old man who attempted to take his own life was rescued by a police team.
In 2023, a 17-year-old girl who jumped into the Yamuna River from the Signature Bridge was rescued in a 45-minute-long operation by a team of police officers and local divers.
In 2018, two medical students were killed after losing control of their bike, crashing into the railing, and falling about 30 feet onto the road below.
“More attention is given to aesthetics than to implementing proper safety measures to prevent suicides,” said another officer on patrol. He added that repeated concerns have been raised with senior authorities regarding faulty infrastructure and non-functional CCTV cameras, but no action has been taken so far.
Who is accountable?
The beauty, tourist appeal, and architectural marvel of the bridge have come into question due to the lack of basic surveillance and safety measures.
“Why doesn’t the government increase the barrier height or install anti-jump fencing or protective netting?” said Rawat.
In 2024, the Delhi government allocated a budget of Rs 60 crore for the installation of CCTV cameras across the city.
While Timarpur Police say the Public Works Department (PWD) is responsible for the bridge’s CCTV maintenance, Dinesh Kumar Jaiswal, Executive Engineer of the PWD’s North East Road & Building Division, denied having any contract or role related to the bridge.
“Any work or maintenance of the Signature Bridge is handled by the Delhi Police and Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), not the PWD,” said Jaiswal.
Amid the officials passing the blame, Sneha’s family claimed that the investigation was prolonged due to bureaucratic delays and infrastructural shortcomings.
“This is not just about Sneha; it’s about the safety of every student and citizen who visits this area,” said Bipasha. “We demand accountability from the Delhi Police and government, and immediate steps to fix this negligent failure.”
(Edited by Ratan Priya)