Senior journalist Payal Mehta passes away

Payal Mehta was associated with CNN-News18 and covered parliamentary affairs

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Sep 20, 2026 10:41 AM  | 2 min read
Senior journalist Payal Mehta passes away
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  • Senior journalist Payal Mehta, Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, passed away in Mumbai at the age of 46 after feeling unwell and being taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead before treatment could begin.
  • The cause of her death has not been officially disclosed, prompting tributes from political leaders and fellow journalists who praised her dedication and warmth.
  • Mehta was recognized for her expertise in political reporting, particularly covering the Parliament beat, and was noted for her multilingual abilities in Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, and Bengali.
  • With over 15 years of experience in the media industry, she had previously worked with several prominent outlets, including NewsX, Republic TV, and ANI, and returned to CNN-News18 in June 2023 after a prior tenure from 2018 to 2022.

Senior journalist and CNN-News18 Assistant Editor Payal Mehta has passed away. 

According to reports, Payal Mehta, who was in her mid-forties, was in Mumbai when she suddenly felt unwell. She was taken to the hospital late at night, but passed away before treatment could be started. However, no official details have been released regarding the cause of her death.

Political leaders and senior journalists paid their tributes on social media. 

Payal Mehta was known for her deep understanding of Parliament and political reporting. Her peers described her as extremely hardworking, sensitive, and cooperative. 

She was known to be multilingual, being equally fluent in Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, and Bengali. 

Payal Mehta returned to Network18's English news channel, CNN-News18, as an Assistant Editor in June 2023. This was her second stint with the organization. She previously worked with CNN-News18 from 2018 to 2022. She later served at the news agency ANI.

With over 15 years of media experience, Payal Mehta began her career in 2008 with Mumbai-based Focus TV. She subsequently held key roles at leading media outlets such as NewsX, Republic TV, ANI, and CNN-News18. Originally from Kolkata, Payal Mehta is a commerce graduate.

Published On: Sep 20, 2026 10:41 AM