Noida Student Drowning Case Transforms Into Murder Investigation After Mother's Allegations
The tragic drowning of a 23-year-old physical education student in a water-filled construction pit in Noida has taken a dramatic turn, with police now investigating it as a potential murder case following allegations by the victim's mother. Harshit Bhatt, an undergraduate student at Amity University in Sector 125, died on Wednesday after entering the pit behind the Supernova building in Sector 94 with three friends.
From Accident to Murder Probe
Initially treated as a drowning incident, the case escalated on Friday when an FIR for murder was registered at the Sector 126 police station against three individuals identified as Vyas, Krish, and Himanshu. These were the same friends who were with Harshit when the drowning occurred. The investigation shift came after Harshit's mother, Deepmala, pointed to injury marks on her son's body and accused the trio of killing him.
Police officials confirmed they are examining all angles, including the mother's murder allegations and the possibility that the group was intoxicated at the time of the incident. The investigation is being conducted with thorough attention to both the physical evidence and the conflicting accounts of what transpired.
Sequence of Events Leading to Tragedy
According to police reconstruction based on CCTV footage and initial statements, Harshit Bhatt, a resident of Indirapuram who had just completed his sixth-semester exam, went to the construction site with his three friends after his final paper. The group allegedly entered the stalled Noida Habitat and Convention Centre site through a broken section of the boundary wall.
The excavation pit, dug for basement work, had filled with water over time. Police evidence indicates the four friends purchased liquor from a nearby shop around 2:45 PM and consumed alcohol both before and after the exam. Beer cans and liquor bottles were subsequently found near the pit's edge.
Police believe the group, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, decided to wade into the water around 3:30 PM. According to the friends' initial statements to authorities, Harshit entered the water first. After swimming near the edge and completing two laps, he moved toward the center of the pit where the depth increased significantly and the bottom became marshy.
Rescue Efforts and Recovery
The friends claimed that when Harshit began struggling, one of them attempted to pull him out but became stuck in the sludge himself. The group then called for help, triggering a massive rescue operation.
Police, divers, and teams from the fire department, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushed to the spot. Using ropes, rescuers descended into the pit and recovered Harshit from approximately 10 meters inside. He was immediately transported to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Mother's Allegations Challenge Official Narrative
Harshit's mother, Deepmala, has strongly disputed the account provided by her son's friends and the initial police assessment. She has alleged foul play, pointing specifically to injury marks on Harshit's body that she believes contradict the drowning narrative. Her allegations have prompted the more serious murder investigation now underway.
The case continues to develop as police examine forensic evidence, review additional CCTV footage, and interview all parties involved. The transformation from a presumed accidental drowning to a potential murder case has added layers of complexity to an already tragic situation, leaving both authorities and the community seeking answers about what truly happened in that water-filled construction pit.
