A 24-year-old employee at Krutrim, the AI startup founded by Ola’s Bhavish Aggarwal, died by suicide earlier this month.
In a statement shared with the media, a Krutrim spokesperson confirmed the death of the employee.
Nikhil Somwanshi, originally from Maharashtra, was a Machine Learning Engineer at Krutrim, where he had been working full-time since August 2024 at the company’s Bengaluru office.
He recently completed his Master of Management (Business Analytics) from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of one of our most talented young employees, Nikhil, on the 8th of May,” the company said. “Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
The company said Nikhil had been on personal leave at the time of the incident. According to the official account, he first informed his manager on April 8 that he needed rest and was granted time off. On April 17, he reached out again, sharing that he was feeling better but would benefit from more rest. The company said his leave was extended accordingly.
“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 added. “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.”
