Latest news with #NikhilSomwanshi
India Today
21-05-2025
- India Today
Tell everyone I died in accident, Ola Krutrim techie texted friend before suicide
Nikhil Somwanshi, a machine learning engineer at Ola's artificial intelligence division Krutrim, who allegedly died by suicide had messaged his friend to tell everyone that he had died in an body of the 24-year-old IT professional was found in Agara Lake, near his residence in HSR layout, on the morning of May completed his master's degree at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), where he earned a GPA of 9.30, according to sources. During his postgraduate studies, he reportedly worked on a chatbot project using large language models (LLM) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), funded by the Melinda Gates According to the police, Somwanshi, a native of Jalgaon in Maharashtra, left his shared accommodation on the evening of May 7 and sent a message to his roommate, asking him to inform his family that he had died in an accident. When the roommate failed to reach him on phone, he traced Somwanshi's live location through a linked device and rushed to the last-known spot, where he found a pair of slippers near the lake. The friend then immediately alerted the police by dialling to poor visibility after dark, emergency responders were unable to begin search operations that night. His body was recovered from the lake the following Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the Bengaluru South East, Sarah Fatima, confirmed this. 'The case was reported on May 7. A case of unnatural death has been registered, and our investigation is underway. We are awaiting the postmortem report.'advertisementThough he died two weeks ago, the death became a talking point after a user on Reddit linked Somwanshi's death to toxic work culture at his place of viral Reddit post alleged 'extreme work pressure' and verbal abuse at Krutrim. The post claimed that Somwanshi had been placed in a leadership role despite being a fresher and was burdened with extra responsibilities after two colleagues post also named Somwanshi's US-based manager, alleging that he frequently verbally abused employees, particularly junior staff. 'Rajkiran had no idea how to manage people. He used to bash folks and then disappear,' the post said, further claiming that no behavioural changes followed the engineer's death, and that employees were warned not to talk about it. The user described the company's internal situation as 'pathetic.'Somwanshi was an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) who joined Krutrim in August 2024. Since it became news, Ola faced massive backlash for 'toxic work culture' and extreme pressure. Reacting to the allegations, Ola Krutim said he was on personal leave at the time of the incident and had said he was company confirmed his death and issued a statement expressing its 'thoughts and heartfelt sympathies' to his family. However, the company did not address the work culture-related allegations in the a key part of Ola's AI ambitions, rose to prominence in early 2024 after raising USD 50 million in a funding round led by Matrix Partners India, attaining a USD 1 billion valuation and becoming the country's first AI unicorn.
India.com
20-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Who Was Nikhil Somwanshi? Techie Who Died By Suicide As Coworker Points To Toxic Workload
New Delhi: The death of a young employee in India has once again put the spotlight on toxic work culture. Nikhil Somwanshi, a techie who worked for Ola's artificial intelligence (AI) arm Krutrim, died allegedly by suicide on May 8. The recent death of a young tech employee in India has raised fresh concerns about the pressures of toxic work culture. NIkhil Somwashi, who was working with Ola's AI arm, Krutrim, allegedly died by suicide on May 8. This sparked a wider conversation about mental health and workplace stress in the tech industry. A Reddit user, who claimed to be a coworker of Nikhil Somwashi shared that Nikhil took his own life due to 'extreme work pressure.' The user posted under the username 'Kirigawakazuto' after two colleagues quit and most of the workload fell on Nikhil. They also described the work environment as especially tough for freshers and called the experience of working with the manager 'traumatic.' Who was Nikhil Somwanshi? Nikhil Somwanshi was a machine learning engineer at Krutrim, the AI unit of Ola, led by Bhavish Aggarwal. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was a fresher who had been with the company since August 2024. He had recently graduated from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, in July 2024. Nikhil's profile showed that he had two internships before joining Krutrim. In 2023, he spent three months interning at Kotak Mahindra Bank in Bengaluru. Later, from January to June 2024, he worked as a Natural Language Processing Engineer intern at IISc. During his internship at IISc, Nikhil Somwanshi worked on a chatbot called Saathi as part of his Master's thesis. The project was based on large language models (LLM) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). Saathi was funded by the Melinda Gates Foundation and involved a collaboration between IISc Bangalore, Oxford Brookes University (UK), Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Akaike Technologies. The chatbot focused on helping users navigate 200 government schemes. (Discussions on suicides can be triggering for some. But suicides are preventable. If you are looking for help, some suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are 011-40769002 from Sanjivini (Delhi-based, 10 am - 5.30 pm) and 044-24640050 from Sneha Foundation (Chennai-based, 8 am - 10 pm), +91 9999666555 from Vandrevala Foundation (Mumbai-based, 24x7).
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Business Standard
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
After techie's death, police summon Ola Krutrim manager in probe
The police on Monday registered a case of unnatural death following the alleged suicide of a techie working at Krutrim, the artificial intelligence unit of Ola. The death, reportedly linked to work pressure, has triggered scrutiny of the company's work culture. Police have summoned the manager of Ola's AI division for questioning, CNBC reported. The death of Nikhil Somwanshi, a young engineer and recent graduate of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has drawn public attention after allegations of toxic workplace practices emerged on social media. Somwanshi had joined Krutrim less than a year ago and allegedly died by suicide on 8 May. The case gained traction after an anonymous Reddit post—purportedly written by a colleague—went viral, describing the company's environment as 'traumatic,' especially for freshers. The post alleged that Somwanshi was leading a project with two other teammates despite being a recent hire. After both colleagues resigned, the entire workload reportedly fell on him. The post also claimed that the team's manager was verbally abusive in meetings and worked remotely from the US, while the rest of the team was based in Bengaluru. It further alleged that the company attempted to suppress news of the incident. Also Read: A former Krutrim employee, who had worked closely with the same manager, corroborated the allegations. They said they resigned from the company without another job offer due to the intense pressure and recalled having suicidal thoughts during their tenure. In response, the company stated that Somwanshi was on personal leave at the time of the incident. According to a company spokesperson, he initially reached out to his manager on 8 April, expressing the need for rest, and was granted time off. On 17 April, he informed the team that he was feeling better but requested additional rest, which was granted. 'As a company, we are heartbroken by this loss. Nikhil was a valued team member, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew and worked with him,' the spokesperson said. According to Somwanshi's LinkedIn profile, he worked on a large language model (LLM) and a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)-based chatbot called Saathi as part of his master's thesis, which was funded by the Melinda Gates Foundation.
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First Post
19-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Krutrim techie dies by ‘suicide' in Bengaluru: Is toxic work culture to blame?
Nikhil Somwanshi, a 26-year-old techie, died allegedly by suicide on May 8. A recent graduate, he joined Ola's artificial intelligence (AI) arm, Krutrim, just 10 months ago. His death has brought the alleged toxic work environment at the firm to the limelight after a Reddit post blamed immense work pressure and verbal abuse by his manager for the tragic incident read more The death of a young employee in India has once again put the spotlight on toxic work culture. Nikhil Somwanshi, a techie who worked for Ola's artificial intelligence (AI) arm Krutrim, died allegedly by suicide on May 8. It is being claimed that he was under extreme work pressure. Nikhil's death grabbed headlines after a Reddit post by an anonymous user describing the alleged toxic work environment at Krutim went viral. Let's take a closer look. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who was Nikhil Somwanshi? Nikhil Somwanshi, 25, was a machine learning engineer at Krutrim, the AI unit of the ride-hailing service Ola. He recently graduated from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. Nikhil had joined Krutrim just ten months ago, according to his LinkedIn profile. For his master's thesis, he worked on large language model (LLM) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)-based chatbot called Saathi. The project was a collaboration between IISc Bangalore, the UK's Oxford Brookes University, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Akaike Technologies. Nikhil also briefly interned at Kotak Mahindra Bank in Bengaluru and at IISc as a Natural Language Processing Engineer, as per his profile. Did work pressure kill him? Nikhil Somwanshi died allegedly by suicide on May 8. His body was found in Bengaluru's Agara Lake, as per NDTV. A first information report (FIR) has been filed in the matter. After his death, a Reddit post alleging a toxic work culture at Krutim has gained eyeballs. The Reddit user 'Kirgawakutzo' claimed Nikhil, a fresher, faced intense work pressure and verbal abuse at the hands of his US-based manager, Rajkiran Panuganti. According to the post, Nikhil was part of a three-member team which was leading a project. After two of the members resigned, Nikhil was burdened with their work as well. The post blamed Rajkiran for creating a toxic environment for employees, especially freshers. It is alleged that Rajkiran used 'traumatic' language in meetings, particularly for newcomers. The post said the manager 'attends the calls, bashes people left, right and centre and disappears' since he is in the US and most of the workforce is in Bengaluru. 'The words used in meetings, especially against freshers- it's just traumatic,' the post claimed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These allegations have been corroborated by former employees of Krutim. One of the ex-employees, who previously worked with Nikhil, told Financial Express, 'Rajkiran has no people management skills. He shouts at employees and disappears. The verbal abuse in meetings was traumatic.' The person added that current employees have been told not to speak with the media or police. 'Post his death, [another senior manager at Krutrim] even told others during a session that no one will talk about the incident and if approached by someone, they should redirect them to Ola's legal team,' the ex-employee claimed. Speaking to Business Standard, a former employee backed the allegations in the viral post, claiming to have quit without another job offer due to intense work pressure and recalled having suicidal thoughts while working at Krutim. Toxic work culture is again in the spotlight in India. AI-generated image Another ex-employee also corroborated the allegations in the Reddit post, calling it a 'nightmare' to work with the team's manager. As per the employee, the team members were frequently abused verbally for asking even basic clarifications or suggesting improvements, Business Standard reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Reddit post alleged that even after Nikhil's death, there has been 'no behavioural change' in people at Krutim. It also accused the company of trying to suppress the news of the tragic incident. ALSO READ: More students than farmers are dying by suicide in India. What's behind the alarming rise? Krutim says… A Krutrim spokesperson condoled Nikhil's death, saying the AI firm is 'extending full support' to his family. 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of one of our most talented young employees, Nikhil (Somwanshi), on the 8th of May. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We are extending our full support to Nikhil's family and our employees during this time of grief. We are also in contact with the relevant authorities and will continue to offer our assistance as needed,' the spokesperson told PTI. Krutim said Nikhil was on 'personal leave' at the time of the incident. 'He had reached out to his manager on April 8, expressing that he needed rest, and was promptly granted personal time off. Later, on April 17, he shared that he was feeling better but would benefit from additional rest, and his leave was extended accordingly. We are heartbroken by this loss. Nikhil was a valued team member, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew and worked with him,' it added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A former Ola Krutrim employee, told Financial Express on the condition of anonymity that Nikhil stopped going to the office two weeks before his death, citing mental health concerns. Similar cases Nikhil Somwanshi's death has again brought toxic work culture into the limelight in India. Several cases of sudden deaths, including alleged suicides, of employees have been reported in the country in recent years. In April, a 23-year-old techie allegedly jumped to his death in Kerala due to 'extreme work pressure.' He had reportedly sent a video to his mother, underlining his overwhelming workload and pressure. Last October, a 42-year-old worker at Bajaj Finance is alleged to have died by suicide, citing immense work pressure and mental torture by his seniors in his suicide note. He left behind his wife and two children. An HDFC Bank employee, Sadaf Fatima, died at work, reportedly from a heart attack, in Lucknow after collapsing on the ground in September 2024. According to her colleagues, she was under stress due to work pressure. Another similar case surfaced in September last year. Anna Sebastian Perayil , a 26-year-old employee of Ernst and Young (EY) Pune, had died on July 20 while undergoing treatment at a city hospital after feeling uneasy and complaining of exhaustion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The incident sparked a major backlash and debate on toxic work culture after a letter by Anna's mother to EY's India head, blaming 'work pressure' and long working hours for her daughter's death, went viral. With inputs from agencies A collection of Suicide prevention helpline numbers are available here. Please reach out if you or anyone you know is in need of support. The All-India helpline number is: 022-27546669)
Mint
19-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
India's unicorn obsession has a human cost
Eight years ago, I spent days listening to exhausted employees of a high-profile startup. They shared troubling stories about brutal hours, abusive managers, and constant humiliation that was passed off as motivation. One engineer opened his inbox to show me countless farewell emails—a silent, heartbreaking testimony to the toll the company's toxic culture was taking. Employees were told to either push beyond their limits or find another job. Those brave enough to voice concerns were brushed aside, adding layers of fear and isolation. Yet all these red flags vanished behind headlines celebrating the glamorized chase of billion-dollar or 'unicorn' valuations and charismatic founders. Popular shows like Shark Tank that have taken startup culture mainstream often glorify aggressive pitches and cutthroat competition, rarely celebrating mindful, empathetic founders. Catch phrases or words like 'doglapan"—highlighting hypocrisy and ruthless tactics—have become normalized in startup discourse, reflecting deeper problems in how we view success and leadership. Also read | Growing health concerns force startup boards, investors to press for work-life balance Today, I am faced again with a tragic story. Nikhil Somwanshi, a bright 25-year-old machine learning engineer at Ola Krutrim, was found dead in Bengaluru's Agara Lake. Nikhil, who had a promising future and an impressive academic record, reportedly struggled with overwhelming workloads and relentless pressure. This tragedy feels painfully familiar. It reflects a deeper issue within India's startup ecosystem, one we have allowed to fester. We idolize ruthless ambition, glorify founders who see paranoia and aggression as virtues, and celebrate unicorn status without considering the human beings paying the price. In his sharp critique of Uber, Arun Sundararajan, a professor at New York University's Stern School of Business and an expert on digital technologies and organizational culture, highlighted a crucial point: a company's culture flows directly from its founders. Airbnb chose community and trust, while Uber embraced control and distance. Sundararajan's critique was published in Harvard Business Review in 2014. Not much has changed since. Also read | At the Big Four, work stress is taking a toll on both employee and employer Why have we allowed this narrative to persist? Why do we continue celebrating leaders whose success comes at such a significant human cost? Has our fascination with valuations, funding rounds, and unicorn labels blinded us to the suffering happening right in front of us? We urgently need deeper reporting and the courage to question whom we elevate as our heroes. Because behind these flashy startup stories, real people are hurting, and real lives are being destroyed. My heart breaks for Nikhil's family and colleagues. No unicorn valuation is ever worth losing our humanity. If you or someone you know is struggling, don't ignore the signs. Listen, support, and encourage reaching out for help. Also read | Work-life balance: Do employees dream of Excel sheets? Trusted helplines in India Vandrevala Foundation — Call or WhatsApp: +91 9999 666 555 (24x7) AASRA — Call: +91 22 2754 6669 (24x7) KIRAN (Govt. of India) — Call: 1800-599-0019 (24x7, multilingual) Sneha (Chennai) — Call: +91 44 2464 0060 (24x7)
