Delhi Biker's Tragic Death: Inquiry Uncovers Multiple Safety Violations and Unattended Work Site
A preliminary inquiry conducted by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) into the death of a 25-year-old biker has exposed a series of critical safety failures at an excavation site in Janakpuri. The investigation reveals that mandatory safety arrangements were not enforced, the site was left without supervision, and barricading was dangerously inadequate.
Fatal Incident and Immediate Aftermath
The victim, Kamal Dhyani, had spoken to his brother just before midnight on Thursday, February 5, 2026, informing him he would be home soon. Tragically, his body was discovered the following morning at the bottom of a deep excavation pit in West Delhi's Janakpuri. He was found covered in mud, still wearing his red helmet, with his motorcycle lying beside him.
The pit, measuring approximately six meters long, four meters wide, and four meters deep, had been dug by the DJB just one day before the accident as part of a major drainage network revamp project in the capital.
Inquiry Committee's Critical Findings
The two-member inquiry committee, which visited the accident site on Friday, February 6, documented multiple violations of established safety protocols. While the road had been officially closed and traffic diverted, the committee found that barricading at the work site was "inadequate and improperly maintained" by the contractor.
According to the report, the deceased had entered a "restricted or closed narrow portion of the barricaded roadway" and was moving against designated traffic flow, apparently attempting to take a shortcut toward his residence. However, the committee emphasized that this did not absolve authorities of their safety responsibilities.
Specific Safety Failures Identified
The inquiry highlighted several specific deficiencies:
- Missing Iron Barricades: Mandatory iron barricades along the entire perimeter of the excavation site were not in place as required. The report stated these barricades "must remain firmly in place and should only be relocated once the road surface has been fully levelled and made safe for public use."
- Inadequate Substitutes: Green-mesh netting, which had been deployed selectively, cannot substitute iron barricades in areas where excavation has been undertaken.
- Unattended Site: Crucially, the project site was left completely unattended at the time of the incident, reflecting what the committee called a "serious lapse in mandatory safety arrangements."
Responsibility and Proposed Actions
The inquiry fixed responsibility on multiple parties, citing deficiencies in night-time supervision, vigilance, and discharge of official duties. The contractor agency, M/s KK Spun India Ltd-O Liner JV, was specifically faulted for inadequate barricading maintenance.
Officials named in the report include Ramesh Kumar Gupta, Superintending Engineer (Drains), Project-IV; Azad Singh Grewal, Executive Engineer, EE(P)SR-II; Vandana, Assistant Engineer (Civil); and Alok Kumar, Junior Engineer (Civil). The latter three were suspended on Friday following the preliminary findings.
The committee has proposed disciplinary action against the concerned officials, show-cause notices to contractors "without delay," and making Chief Engineers responsible for enforcing safety compliance across all DJB projects.
Committee Recommendations to Prevent Future Tragedies
To prevent recurrence of such incidents, the inquiry committee made several key recommendations:
- Strict enforcement of barricading and pit-protection norms across all work sites
- Mandatory daily safety monitoring reports by site engineers, documenting safety arrangements and corrective actions taken
- Periodic surprise inspections by senior officers to verify on-ground compliance and identify lapses
- Systematic maintenance of photographic records at each site as proof of safety compliance
"The fatal accident at Janakpuri stands as a grave reminder of the consequences of inadequate safety oversight," the report stated, emphasizing that "safeguarding the public must remain the foremost priority" and that any lapse in this regard is unacceptable.
Legal and Administrative Actions Taken
Beyond the suspensions, an FIR has been registered under sections of culpable homicide against unknown persons. On Saturday, February 7, Delhi Police apprehended a sub-contractor in connection with the case.
A senior DJB official confirmed that the inquiry was conducted to examine multiple aspects of safety and compliance at the accident site, adding that "a comprehensive and detailed inquiry report will be submitted in due course."
The incident has raised serious questions about safety protocols at public works sites across Delhi, particularly during night hours when supervision is often reduced. The DJB's ongoing drainage network revamp, a critical infrastructure project, now faces increased scrutiny regarding its implementation of mandatory safety measures.
