Tragic Discovery in West Delhi: Call Centre Employee Found Dead in Construction Pit
A 25-year-old call centre employee was discovered deceased inside an open construction pit in west Delhi's Janakpuri on Thursday morning. The victim, identified as Kamal Dhyani, had informed his family he would arrive home within ten minutes just hours before his body was found.
Timeline of Events Leading to Tragedy
Kamal Dhyani departed from his Rohini office late on February 5 and subsequently went missing, triggering an extensive overnight search operation conducted by both family members and police authorities. His motorcycle was later recovered from the same pit where his body was discovered, raising serious concerns about civic safety protocols and the handling of missing person complaints.
Victim Details:
- Kamal Dhyani, 25 years old
- Employed at a private bank's call centre
- Resident of Palam with family originally from Uttarakhand
Location: Joginder Singh Marg, Janakpuri, west Delhi
Pit Dimensions: 20 feet long, 14 feet deep, and 13 feet wide
Sequence of Events on February 5-6
Kamal left his Rohini office approximately at 11 pm. His final communication with family occurred at 11:50 pm when he called to indicate he was nearby and would reach home within ten minutes. Following this call, he ceased responding to further attempts at contact, prompting immediate concern among family and friends.
An overnight search was initiated across Janakpuri, Rohini, Paschim Vihar, and adjacent police station jurisdictions, yet no trace of Kamal was initially discovered. Around 7 am the following morning, when family members called his phone again, police personnel answered the call. Both his motorcycle and body were subsequently located within the open construction pit, with his helmet still positioned on his head.
Authorities have registered an FIR under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide) against the contractor and concerned officials of the Delhi Jal Board.
Family Allegations Regarding Police Response
Family members traced Kamal's route and verified that he departed alongside his manager, with the two separating at Peeragarhi before his phone became inactive. They assert that despite alerting police during the night about his disappearance, officers instructed them to visit the station the following morning, resulting in what they characterize as a significant delay in police action.
According to family and friends, police provided only a 200-meter search radius, compelling friends to conduct the primary search operation themselves. The group meticulously combed through pits and parks using flashlights, extending their efforts from Janakpuri to Mangolpuri, Paschim Vihar, and Sagarpur.
Family members have raised suspicions of foul play, noting they had previously examined the pit and found no evidence of Kamal earlier in their search. When requesting CCTV footage, police allegedly informed them that cameras provided only live feeds without recording or playback capabilities.
Police Account of Search Efforts
According to police records, Kamal's brother Karan arrived at Vikas Puri police station at 1:35 am, where officers reported no matching accident reports, medico-legal cases, or biker incidents. At 2:50 am, Karan formally reported Kamal missing at Janakpuri police station, with his last mobile location traced near Paschim Park.
Police circulated Kamal's photograph and vehicle details to the control room and police groups throughout the West district. Police teams, accompanied by family members, searched parks, parking areas, and nearby colonies for several hours without success. The following morning, a PCR call reported a man had fallen into a construction pit on Joginder Singh Marg.
History of Similar Incidents in Delhi
This tragic event follows several similar incidents in the national capital:
- March 2025: A 37-year-old man died in a suspected accident on MB Road in south Delhi's Tigri, with police investigating whether a filler pit caused his motorcycle to lose balance.
- February 2025: A car plunged into a massive pit where a road section had caved in Dwarka.
- August 2024: Two children drowned in a water-filled pit in Rohini's Prem Nagar.
- June 2024: Three laborers drowned in a pit at an under-construction building in southwest Delhi's Vasant Vihar.
- June 2023: A 51-year-old man, along with his autorickshaw, fell into a 12-foot-deep pit in northeast Delhi's Yamuna Vihar.
These recurring incidents highlight persistent concerns regarding construction site safety and civic infrastructure management throughout Delhi.
