India: Former Miss Puducherry San Rechal Gandhi dies by suicide at 26

San Rechal Gandhi, former Miss Puducherry and an advocate for inclusivity in the fashion industry, died on Saturday at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), days after an alleged suicide attempt.

The 26-year-old model and social activist had reportedly consumed an overdose of sleeping pills on July 5. According to news outlets in India, she was initially taken to the Puducherry Government Hospital by her father and later shifted to a private hospital before being admitted to JIPMER, where she succumbed.

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Rechal rose to prominence for challenging colourism and promoting diversity in fashion. She was crowned Miss Dark Queen Tamil Nadu in 2019 and later won the Miss Puducherry title in 2021. She also represented India in international modelling events held in London, Germany, and France.

According to police sources in reports by Indian outlets, Rechal had recently married and was reportedly battling depression at the time of her death. The Urulaiyanpettai Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.

Raised by her father after losing her mother at a young age, Rechal was known for her work on women’s safety and for breaking conventional beauty norms in the modelling industry.

Khaleej Times Staff

webteam@khaleejtimes.com