New Delhi: The tragic death of Nikhil Somwanshi, a 25-year-old machine learning engineer at Bengaluru-based AI firm Krutrim, has sparked outrage and renewed discussions about the intensely demanding and potentially damaging work culture prevalent in India’s tech industry.
Somwanshi’s body was found in Agara Lake on May 8th, and subsequent reports point towards suicide, allegedly driven by extreme work pressure and an allegedly abusive manager.
The incident gained significant attention after a viral Reddit post, purportedly written by a colleague, painted a grim picture of Krutrim’s work environment. The post described a “traumatic” atmosphere, particularly for recent graduates like Somwanshi, who was reportedly managing a project solo after his team members left, while dealing with an allegedly “incompetent and verbally abusive manager” based in the US.
The post specifically criticised the manager for their communication style and alleged tendency to “bash people” during meetings.
While Krutrim expressed deep sadness and sympathy for Somwanshi’s family in a statement to news agency PTI, confirming that he was on extended leave at the time of his death, they also highlighted his requests for leave due to stress that were granted without any delay.
“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,” a news agency PTI quoted a company spokesperson as saying.
However, this official narrative has been challenged by additional reports, including a Business Standard article quoting a former employee who corroborated the allegations of intense work pressure and claimed to have resigned due to suicidal feelings. A Financial Express report also backs the allegations, quoting another ex-employee who described the manager, Rajkiran Panuganti, as lacking people management skills and engaging in verbal abuse during meetings.
Somwanshi’s LinkedIn profile showcases his significant contributions. He developed the Saathi chatbot for his master’s thesis, a project funded by the Melinda Gates Foundation, in collaboration with IISc Bangalore and other institutions. The chatbot aimed to simplify access to government schemes in four Indian states.
“He just attends the calls, bashes people left, right and centre and disappears since he lives in the US and most workforce is here in Bangalore. The words used in meetings, especially against freshers, it’s just traumatic,” the post read.
