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A 27-year-old software engineer from Noida lost his life after his SUV plunged into a water-filled pit in Sector 150, exposing serious gaps in safety measures and emergency response in the area.
The incident occurred around midnight on Friday, January 16 amid dense fog and poor visibility, as per News18.
SUV crashes through broken wall amid fog
The victim, Yuvraj Mehta, was returning home from work in Gurugram when his vehicle broke through a damaged boundary wall and fell into a nearly 70-foot-deep pit dug for an infrastructure project.
The stretch lacked proper lighting, reflectors or barricades, making it difficult for drivers to spot a sharp turn near ATS Le Grandiose, reported News18.
Mehta, who did not know how to swim, managed to escape the car and climbed onto its roof. For nearly two hours, he fought to stay alive and repeatedly called his father and a close friend for help.
‘I don’t want to die’: Last calls for help
On his final call to his father Raj Kumar Mehta, the engineer said, "Dad, I’ve fallen into a deep pit filled with water. I’m drowning. Please come and save me. I don’t want to die."
His father and police reached the site within minutes but were unable to see him due to thick fog, though his voice could be heard, as per CNN-News18.
Read more: Western disturbances to bring rain and snow to Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal
Raj Kumar Mehta alleged that rescue efforts were delayed and poorly equipped. “They only had ropes which couldn’t reach Yuvraj… Help was not delivered to him," he said, adding that a rescue boat arrived nearly two hours later, by which time his son had died.
Friend, delivery executive allege rescue failure
Pankaj Tokas, a close friend, said police personnel on site admitted they could not swim. “Cranes and ropes were also called, but no one entered the water to save my friend… He stopped pleading for help around 2:30 am," Tokas said, as per News18.
A delivery executive, Moninder, who attempted a rescue and jumped in the pit to save Mehta, alleged that authorities failed to act despite having equipment. He said the fire department arrived while Mehta was still alive and could have saved him. “There were over 100 men around, but no one stepped up to help him," he said.
"They asked me if I knew how to swim. I agreed. However, I also asked them why nobody was going to help the man. I noticed that the fire department was fully equipped with fire safety jackets and a crane. The man was alive when the fire department was here. They could have saved him 100%. They were well-equipped," he added, as per News18.
FIR against builders, officials face action
Following the incident, an FIR was registered against Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd and Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd under Sections 105, 106 (1) and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The Noida Authority has suspended Junior Engineer Naveen Kumar and issued show-cause notices to other officials after an internal probe found that the site lacked reflector signs. Officials confirmed the land had been allotted to a private builder years ago.
Residents had flagged danger earlier
A similar accident occurred at the same location 18 days earlier when a truck fell into the pit. Residents had reportedly warned authorities and demanded barricading, but no permanent safety measures were put in place, as per News18.
The family has filed an FIR and is seeking accountability, with Raj Kumar Mehta urging authorities to ensure such lapses do not claim more lives.
The incident occurred around midnight on Friday, January 16 amid dense fog and poor visibility, as per News18.
SUV crashes through broken wall amid fog
The victim, Yuvraj Mehta, was returning home from work in Gurugram when his vehicle broke through a damaged boundary wall and fell into a nearly 70-foot-deep pit dug for an infrastructure project.
The stretch lacked proper lighting, reflectors or barricades, making it difficult for drivers to spot a sharp turn near ATS Le Grandiose, reported News18.
Mehta, who did not know how to swim, managed to escape the car and climbed onto its roof. For nearly two hours, he fought to stay alive and repeatedly called his father and a close friend for help.
‘I don’t want to die’: Last calls for help
On his final call to his father Raj Kumar Mehta, the engineer said, "Dad, I’ve fallen into a deep pit filled with water. I’m drowning. Please come and save me. I don’t want to die."
His father and police reached the site within minutes but were unable to see him due to thick fog, though his voice could be heard, as per CNN-News18.
Read more: Western disturbances to bring rain and snow to Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal
Raj Kumar Mehta alleged that rescue efforts were delayed and poorly equipped. “They only had ropes which couldn’t reach Yuvraj… Help was not delivered to him," he said, adding that a rescue boat arrived nearly two hours later, by which time his son had died.
Friend, delivery executive allege rescue failure
Pankaj Tokas, a close friend, said police personnel on site admitted they could not swim. “Cranes and ropes were also called, but no one entered the water to save my friend… He stopped pleading for help around 2:30 am," Tokas said, as per News18.
A delivery executive, Moninder, who attempted a rescue and jumped in the pit to save Mehta, alleged that authorities failed to act despite having equipment. He said the fire department arrived while Mehta was still alive and could have saved him. “There were over 100 men around, but no one stepped up to help him," he said.
"They asked me if I knew how to swim. I agreed. However, I also asked them why nobody was going to help the man. I noticed that the fire department was fully equipped with fire safety jackets and a crane. The man was alive when the fire department was here. They could have saved him 100%. They were well-equipped," he added, as per News18.
FIR against builders, officials face action
Following the incident, an FIR was registered against Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd and Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd under Sections 105, 106 (1) and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The Noida Authority has suspended Junior Engineer Naveen Kumar and issued show-cause notices to other officials after an internal probe found that the site lacked reflector signs. Officials confirmed the land had been allotted to a private builder years ago.
Residents had flagged danger earlier
A similar accident occurred at the same location 18 days earlier when a truck fell into the pit. Residents had reportedly warned authorities and demanded barricading, but no permanent safety measures were put in place, as per News18.
The family has filed an FIR and is seeking accountability, with Raj Kumar Mehta urging authorities to ensure such lapses do not claim more lives.
