A tragic fire at a hotel in Delhi claimed the lives of 21 individuals, including Shrutika Baranwal, a recent graduate from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai. Baranwal had just completed her Master’s degree in Water Policy and Governance earlier this year and had traveled to the capital to finalize details for a job she secured through campus recruitment.
Friends of Baranwal noted that after three days of completing her employment formalities, she was scheduled to return to Mumbai to start her new role.
Aman Singh, a friend and classmate of Shrutika, was on a phone call with her when the incident occurred. He recalled, “I will never forget those few seconds of screams before the call dropped. When I couldn’t reach her again, I contacted a mutual friend who knew her whereabouts in Delhi, and we alerted the police. Shortly afterward, we received confirmation about the fire.” Aman and other friends quickly informed Shrutika’s family and relatives in Delhi.
Hailing from Bokaro in Jharkhand, Shrutika came from a middle-class background. Her friends shared that she had enrolled at TISS with aspirations for a promising career placement. Many of her peers, also preparing to embark on their professional journeys, expressed their shock and sadness over her untimely death, recalling her enthusiasm for her new job.
Karan Kaushal, another classmate from Jharkhand who attended Shrutika’s funeral in Bokaro on Thursday, mentioned, “We have been in regular communication, discussing our job prospects since many of us are now spread across different parts of India.”
Her professors at TISS remembered her as a dedicated student. A memorial meeting was held at the institute on Thursday.
Pranjal Deekshit, the chairperson of the TISS Centre for Water Policy and Governance, remarked, “Shrutika was an exceptionally dedicated student who actively engaged in numerous initiatives. She had secured a position at the Rubber, Chemical & Polymer Skill Development Centre and was eager to start. Her Master’s thesis on shallow aquifer management in Dhanbad received significant praise from both faculty and professionals in the field.”
Eklavya Prasad, managing trustee of Megh Pyne Abhiyan, an organization focused on groundwater issues in Dhanbad, had supervised Shrutika’s dissertation. He noted, “Her dedication and involvement in fieldwork were truly impressive. She approached her work with genuine interest and a desire to effect change, embodying the passion needed in the social sector.”
