Delhi Contractor Arrested After Biker Plunges to Death in Unmarked Excavation Pit
In a tragic incident that has shocked the capital, a 25-year-old biker plunged to his death in a 14-foot-deep pit dug for water works in Janakpuri, Delhi. The Delhi Police have arrested the sub-contractor responsible for the excavation, Rajesh Kumar Prajapati, a resident of Tri Nagar, for his alleged negligence and failure to alert authorities.
Sequence of Events: A Night of Missed Opportunities
The accident occurred late at night when the biker, identified as Kamal Dhyani, fell into the freshly dug pit. An eyewitness, Vipin Singh, along with his family, saw the bike fall while returning home to Sagarpur after attending a wedding in Rohini. Vipin immediately informed a security guard at a nearby residential complex, who then relayed the information to the contractor's labourer, Yogesh.
Yogesh reached the spot and noticed the motorcycle's headlight was still on. He called his boss, Rajesh Kumar Prajapati, at 12:22 am, as confirmed through call records. Prajapati arrived at the location within 15–20 minutes from his home. However, despite seeing the victim lying inside the pit, he walked away without calling for rescue or medical assistance.
Delayed Response and Arrest
Kamal Dhyani remained in the open pit for more than six hours before police were finally alerted. The call came around 8:03 am on Friday from a woman who was on her way to drop her son at school. She noticed the motorcycle inside the pit and tried to seek help locally, but faced indifference from bystanders. Frustrated, she called the Police Control Room herself, requesting immediate assistance.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar stated that Prajapati admitted to not informing authorities because he was frightened. Police are now searching for Yogesh, who fled to his hometown Etawah in Uttar Pradesh after calling his employer but taking no steps to help the victim. Investigators have questioned the security guard to establish the sequence of events and plan to question the main contractor who hired Prajapati.
Safety Lapses and Investigation Details
The inquiry revealed alarming safety failures. The pit had been dug on the afternoon of January 5, just hours before the accident. Unlike another pit in the area that was familiar to commuters, this was a fresh excavation, which Kamal might not have anticipated. An on-site inspection showed that the Delhi Jal Board and its contractors failed to ensure basic safety measures, including:
- Barricading around the excavation site
- Warning signs and reflectors
- Adequate lighting for nighttime visibility
- Deployment of a security guard
Police sources added that Prajapati made two to three phone calls on the night of the incident, and those he contacted will also be questioned. Prajapati told police he had entered the construction field only after the Covid-19 pandemic. Authorities are seeking documents from the Delhi Jal Board to verify his employment status at the time of the incident.
This case highlights severe lapses in public safety protocols during infrastructure work in Delhi, raising questions about accountability and enforcement of regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
