NOIDA: An FIR has been filed against two builders who own the water-filled pit in Sector 150, where a 27-year-old software engineer drowned after his SUV crashed through a damaged boundary wall around midnight on Friday.
According to police, the plot lacked proper security measures like a boundary wall, fencing, or reflectors, making it hazardous during the dense fog.
ACP Hemant Upadhyay stated that the case was lodged with Knowledge Park police following a complaint from Yuvraj Mehta’s father. Charges under sections 105 (culpable homicide), 106 (causing death by negligence), and 125 (act endangering life) of BNS have been filed against MZ Wishtown Planners Pvt Ltd and Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd.
The FIR indicates a severe lack of safety measures, saying there were no barricades or reflectors around the pit, leading to the tragic incident.
The accident took place around 12:30 AM while Mehta, a resident of Sector 150, was on his way home, navigating a sharp turn near ATS Le Grandiose. His Grand Vitara veered past the damaged wall and into the pit, which contained approximately 30 feet of water. Mehta, unable to swim, managed to exit the vehicle and climb onto its roof, signaling for help by flashing his phone’s torch through the fog.
He contacted his father, Raj Mehta, sharing his location via WhatsApp. Raj Mehta, a retired SBI director, arrived at the scene promptly and dialed 112. Despite being audible from the edge of the pit, rescuers struggled to pinpoint his location due to the fog. A senior official noted, “We could see only a thin ray of light, likely from his phone.” Another rescuer added that visibility was limited to less than 10 meters due to fog conditions.
Initially, police attempted to reach Mehta with a rope, but it was ineffective. Firefighters later tried using a crane, which also fell short, followed by ladders, but the distance was too great.
According to ACP Rajeev Narayan Mishra, local police coordinated immediately with emergency services. “Upon receiving the report, we engaged the fire brigade and arranged all necessary equipment despite near-zero visibility,” he stated.
Moninder, an online delivery worker passing by, jumped into the cold water around 1:45 AM after hearing Mehta’s cries and criticized the administration for a delayed response. “Yuvraj kept pleading for help. The administration is accountable for his death,” he claimed, after spending nearly 30 minutes searching in the water.
Mehta’s friend, Pankaj Tokas, alleged, “He was screaming loudly for help while standing on the car’s roof. Initial officers claimed they couldn’t swim. Cranes were summoned, but no one entered the water to aid him.”
Police acknowledged that the water’s depth and the adverse conditions hampered rescue efforts. “We exerted every effort for his rescue, but the plot’s water depth and the darkness complicate the situation,” an officer explained.
Sources reported that the SDRF team arrived first but were unequipped for the deep pit. The NDRF team was called from Ghaziabad, adding to the response time due to the fog.
Tragically, Mehta’s cries ceased around 1:45 AM—an hour and a half after the incident—and his body was recovered around 4:30 AM.
Residents indicated that the pit had been excavated nearly two years prior for a mall project and had been left uncovered, accumulating sewage from nearby areas due to restrictions on releasing water into the Hindon river.
A spokesperson for Lotus Greens stated that the plot was officially transferred to Grihapravesh Group with Noida Authority’s sanction in 2019-20.
Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M has issued showcause notices to officials responsible for traffic management in Sector 150 and terminated the services of junior engineer Naveen Kumar. He has also mandated inspections of safety measures at construction sites and called for detailed reports.
