Noida Builders Face Legal Action Over Fatal Water Pit Incident
Police in Noida have filed a First Information Report against two construction companies. The builders own a water-filled excavation pit in Sector 150 where a young software engineer tragically drowned. The incident occurred late Friday night when the victim's SUV crashed through a damaged boundary wall.
Details of the Tragic Accident
Yuvraj Mehta, a 27-year-old software engineer and resident of Sector 150, was returning home around midnight. As he navigated a sharp turn near ATS Le Grandiose, dense fog and poor visibility created dangerous conditions. His Grand Vitara broke through a compromised wall and plunged into the deep pit.
The excavation contained approximately thirty feet of water. Mehta, who could not swim, managed to escape his vehicle and climb onto its roof. From this precarious position, he repeatedly flashed his phone's torch through the thick fog. He hoped rescuers would spot the light.
Desperate Rescue Efforts in Zero Visibility
Mehta immediately called his father, Raj Mehta, and shared his WhatsApp location. Raj, a retired State Bank of India director, rushed to the scene within minutes and dialed emergency number 112. People gathered at the pit's edge could hear Yuvraj's cries for help but struggled to locate him in the impenetrable fog.
"We could only see a thin ray of light, likely from his phone," recounted a senior official involved in the rescue operation. Another official described the conditions as nearly impossible, stating teams "could not see even ten metres" ahead.
Police first attempted to throw a rope to the stranded man. When that failed to reach him, firefighters tried using a crane. Ladders were also deployed, but the distance remained too great. The State Disaster Response Force arrived first but lacked specialized equipment for the deep water. The National Disaster Response Force had to travel from Ghaziabad, losing precious time in the dense fog.
Builders Charged with Negligence
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hemant Upadhyay confirmed the case registration at Knowledge Park police station. The complaint came from Yuvraj Mehta's grieving father. Authorities have charged MZ Wishtown Planners Private Limited and Lotus Greens Construction Private Limited under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The charges include culpable homicide, causing death by negligence, and acts endangering life. The FIR specifically notes the complete absence of proper barricading, fencing, or reflectors around the hazardous site. "There was serious negligence on the part of the builders," the official document states.
Witnesses Criticize Rescue Response
Moninder, an online delivery worker passing through the area, heard Mehta's desperate pleas. Around 1:45 AM, he jumped into the freezing water to search for the engineer. He spent nearly thirty minutes in the water but could not locate Mehta in the darkness.
"Yuvraj kept pleading for help. The administration is responsible for his death," Moninder alleged, criticizing what he called a delayed emergency response.
Mehta's friend Pankaj Tokas echoed these concerns. "He was screaming at the top of his voice for help while standing on the car's roof," Tokas said. "The cops who went initially said they could not swim. Cranes were called but no one entered the water to save him."
Longstanding Hazard Ignored
Local residents revealed the pit had been excavated nearly two years earlier for a proposed mall project. Builders left the deep excavation uncovered and unsecured. Sewage discharge from nearby residential societies accumulated in the pit due to restrictions on releasing water into the Hindon River.
Police officials acknowledged the challenging conditions hampered rescue efforts. "We made all efforts to rescue him," one officer stated. "But due to the depth of the water collected in the plot, it was difficult to save him in the darkness and dense fog."
Silence Falls, Then Recovery
Yuvraj Mehta's cries for help gradually fell silent around 1:45 AM. This was approximately ninety minutes after his vehicle plunged into the water. Rescue teams finally recovered his body at 4:30 AM.
Aftermath and Official Actions
In response to the tragedy, Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M has taken disciplinary action. He issued show-cause notices to officials responsible for traffic-related work in Sector 150. The Authority terminated the services of junior engineer Naveen Kumar. CEO Lokesh has also directed concerned departments to inspect safety measures at all construction sites and submit detailed reports.
A spokesperson for Lotus Greens Construction offered a different perspective. The company claimed the plot had been transferred to Grihapravesh Group with Noida Authority's approval back in 2019-2020.
This tragic incident highlights critical safety failures at construction sites across growing urban areas. It raises urgent questions about accountability for hazardous conditions that claim innocent lives.
