A tragic incident in Noida has claimed the life of a young software engineer, with eyewitnesses pointing fingers at what they call negligent rescue efforts. Yuvraj Mehta, aged 27, drowned after his car plunged into a water-filled ditch in Sector 150 late Saturday night.
Eyewitnesses Accuse Rescue Workers of Inaction
Family members and bystanders at the scene reported that rescue operations moved too slowly. Despite multiple agencies arriving, including police, fire department, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the victim remained trapped for hours.
"Water Is Too Cold," Rescuers Said
Moninder, a delivery agent who attempted to help, criticized the authorities. He told News18 that emergency responders refused to enter the water due to cold temperatures and potential hazards like iron rods below the surface.
"The police were present along with the SDRF. Fire brigade personnel were also there. But no one helped him. They were saying, 'The water is too cold. We won’t go inside. There are iron rods inside. We won’t go'," Moninder was quoted in a Hindustan Times report.
Victim's Pleas for Help Ignored
According to Moninder, Mehta's car floated on the water for about two hours while he pleaded for help. "He kept pleading for help, which fell on deaf ears. There were over 100 men around, but no one stepped up to help him," he said.
Moninder added that he entered the water himself, searching for about 30 minutes without success. By 5:30 AM, neither the body nor the vehicle had been recovered.
Father Receives Distressing Call
Raj Kumar Mehta, the victim's father, shared that his son called him shortly after the accident. "My son himself called me while he was trapped. He said, 'Papa, I am stuck, the car has fallen into the drain'," he told HT.
The father rushed to the location but could not assist due to the deep water. He noted that police lacked a swimmer who could have reached his son.
Police Explain Rescue Challenges
Police stated that Mehta, who lived in a high-rise in Sector 150 with his father, was driving a Grand Vitara when he lost control at a turn. The car crashed into a drain's boundary wall and fell into the waterlogged basement of an under-construction building.
Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar Chaubey said, "The rescue operation took some time. We were at the spot till around 5am."
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hemant Upadhyay explained the difficulties. "We made all efforts to rescue him, but due to the depth of the water collected in the under-construction vacant plot, it was difficult to save him in the darkness and dense fog. We were afraid that there could be more casualties if someone entered the water to rescue him."
The body was recovered two days later, highlighting the grim outcome of this late-night accident in Noida.
