Delhi Jal Board Engineers Suspended Following Tragic Janakpuri Pit Death
The Delhi government on Friday suspended three engineers from the Delhi Jal Board after a 25-year-old motorcyclist died by falling into a construction pit dug by the water agency in the Janakpuri area. The victim, identified as Kamal Dhyani, was returning home from work when the tragic incident occurred.
Family Accuses Police of Gross Negligence
Dhyani's family has leveled serious allegations against the Delhi Police, claiming they received no assistance during their desperate search for the missing man. According to the family, they visited at least six police stations but were unable to get proper help until morning.
"When I last talked to him, he said he would reach home in 10 minutes," Dhyani's brother recounted. "When I called him again at 12:30 am, he didn't pick up. We got worried and started looking for him. I first went to his office in Rohini, then to the Janakpuri police station. The police gave us his last location in this area. We kept looking but couldn't find him. This is gross carelessness."
The brother added that when he checked the pit at 1:30 am, his brother was not there. "My brother was not crazy that he would deliberately crash into the pit... In the morning, when I again called my brother's phone number, the police picked up the call and informed us that his body had been recovered from the pit... Had the police got into action on time, my brother would have been alive."
Friends Join Search, Face Police Hurdles
Kamal's friend revealed that police asked them to wait until 11 am to file a formal complaint. "When we went to the police station to file a complaint, we were told that our complaint would not be registered before 11 am," he said. "Upon request, the police helped us find the location of my friend and asked us to look for him in a 200-metre radius here."
The friend described how seven people searched from midnight to 7 am without success. "7 people were searching for him from midnight to 7 am, but we could not find him. At 1 am, when we checked the pit, he was not there. We were on this road all the time, but we don't understand how he ended up here after we checked."
He expressed frustration about the delayed response: "Why could his phone not be traced by the police at night? We suspect he was killed... He was 25 years old and worked at the HDFC Bank call centre in Rohini Sector 10... Police have been deployed, and barricades have been set up around the pit now. Why couldn't they do it earlier? My friend could have been saved."
Police Response and Investigation
Delhi Police claimed they tracked Kamal's phone as soon as his brother approached Janakpuri Police Station around 2:45 am. They stated that a constable searched with family members for approximately 2.5 hours.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Sharad Bhaskar assured that the matter would be investigated if help was indeed denied. "A pit was dug for some work of the Delhi Jal Board. Last night, 25-year-old Kamal Dhyani's bike fell into this pit, and he unfortunately died," Bhaskar said. "We will investigate all stakeholders of this DJB work."
He explained the timeline: "The deceased's brother came to Janakpuri Police Station around 2:45 am, and he informed that his brother had not reached home yet. The police tracked his mobile phone, which was indicating Janakpuri District Park. Head Constable Ramkesh searched for the deceased with the family members for about 2.5 hours, but they couldn't find him."
"At 8 am today, a woman called the police and informed them that a body was lying in a 15-foot deep pit. This is when everything came to light... As of now, we know that the family visited PS Janakpuri, but if the family says they did not receive help from 6-7 police stations, we will look into it... FIR is being registered," Bhaskar added.
Political Reactions and Official Actions
Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood expressed grief over the incident and promised strict action. "I received news of this unfortunate accident around 8:30-9 am, and I have been here since then... Delhi Jal Board work was in progress here, and I have instructed the Jal Board to investigate the safety protocols. If anyone is found responsible, they will not be spared," Sood stated.
The Delhi Jal Board has established a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident. Water Minister Pravesh Verma announced on social media: "DJB has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to ensure a transparent investigation into the incident. The committee has been directed to inspect the accident site immediately and review safety arrangements, barricading, signage and traffic management."
Three officers - an executive engineer, assistant engineer, and junior engineer - were suspended for failing to monitor the work site properly. Officials revealed that work at the site had been ongoing for three months, with the pit dug just one day before the accident.
Political Controversy Erupts
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal criticized the BJP-led Delhi government, calling the death "not an accident, but murder." In a social media post, the former Delhi chief minister alleged: "The BJP has learned nothing even from the Noida incident. Gross negligence and a non-responsible attitude have now become the hallmark of BJP governments, and the common people are paying the price for it."
Kejriwal referenced a recent incident in Noida where a software engineer died in a waterlogged plot, suggesting a pattern of negligence. "May God give strength to that family who lost their child due to the government's negligence," he added.
The tragic incident has raised serious questions about construction site safety protocols and police responsiveness in emergency situations, with investigations ongoing from multiple agencies.
