A 27-year-old software engineer tragically lost his life early Saturday morning after his sport-utility vehicle plunged into a water-filled construction pit near a mall site in Sector 150, Noida, highlighting concerns over road safety and unattended construction hazards in the area.
The victim has been identified as Yuvraj Mehta, who worked with a tech firm in Gurugram and was returning home late on Friday night when the accident occurred amid dense fog and poor visibility conditions.
Accident and Rescue Efforts
According to authorities, Mehta’s Maruti Grand Vitara broke through a damaged boundary wall and fell into a deep, water-filled pit dug for a commercial project around midnight. The site, locals say, had been left uncovered for nearly two years, accumulating rain and sewage water in the excavation.
Mehta, who could not swim, managed to escape the submerged vehicle and climbed onto its roof. In a desperate bid for help, he repeatedly called his father and flashed his phone’s torch through the thick fog to attract attention. “Dad, I’ve fallen into a deep pit filled with water. I’m drowning… Please come and save me,” he reportedly told his father over the phone as rescuers arrived at the scene.
Local police, fire brigade teams, and personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were called to the scene. However, the rescue operation, hindered by fog, darkness and the pit’s depth of around 30 feet, could not reach Mehta in time.
A passerby and a delivery agent, Moninder, even entered the freezing water in a bid to locate him after authorities hesitated due to safety risks, but were unable to find him before he was eventually pulled out hours later. Mehta’s body was recovered around 4:30 am, nearly five hours after the accident, and he was declared dead at a hospital.
Family Grief and Allegations of Negligence
The incident has sparked outrage among residents and Mehta’s family, who have accused authorities of negligence. His father, Rajkumar Mehta, a retired bank official, said that despite repeated pleas to the Noida Authority to install barriers, reflectors and warning signs around the hazardous pit, no precautions were taken.
Residents pointed out that a similar accident involving a truck had happened at the same spot about 10 days earlier, but no corrective action was taken afterward. They argue that adequate signage, lighting and barricading could have prevented the tragedy.
The Knowledge Park Police Station in-charge said an investigation has been launched into the accident and that any negligence found will be addressed with appropriate legal action.
Calls for Improved Safety Measures
The accident has revived concerns about unfinished excavation sites and safety standards around rapidly developing urban areas like Noida. Locals are demanding stricter enforcement of safety protocols at construction zones and regular monitoring of high-risk spots, especially on foggy nights when visibility is drastically reduced.
Yuvraj Mehta is survived by his father and elder sister, who lives abroad. The family has been left devastated by the loss of its sole earning member.
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