Opposition Leaders Condemn Delhi Government Over Fatal Pit Incident
In a tragic incident that has ignited political fury, a 25-year-old man lost his life after falling into a pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) while riding his motorcycle on a service road in Janakpuri, West Delhi. The event occurred on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, prompting sharp criticism from opposition leaders who labeled it a case of severe administrative negligence.
Details of the Fatal Accident
Kamal Dhyani, a telecaller with HDFC Bank and a resident of Palam Kailash Puri in Southwest Delhi, was returning home from Rohini in Northwest Delhi late at night. He fell into the pit, which was part of repair work on the 2-km-long service road along Joginder Singh Marg in Janakpuri. Officials stated that the re-laying of the sewer line network and repairs to the service road had commenced a couple of months ago, with the specific pit dug just a day before the incident.
Political Reactions and Accusations
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took to social media to express their outrage. Gandhi described the incident as "murder… not an accident," attributing it to what he called an "epidemic of greed and negligence" plaguing India. He emphasized that the real culprit was the irresponsible authority, citing a lack of accountability in recent events like water poisoning in Indore and road accidents in Noida.
Kejriwal echoed these sentiments, accusing the BJP of apathy and referencing a similar incident last month in Noida where an engineer died after falling into a water-filled pit. He stated, "This is not an accident, but murder. The BJP has learned nothing even from the Noida incident. Extreme negligence and an utterly irresponsible attitude have now become the hallmark of BJP governments."
Government Response and Actions
Following the incident, Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh and Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, who is also the Janakpuri MLA, visited the site for inspection. The Delhi government announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the victim's family and ordered a probe into the matter. The DJB suspended three officials allegedly involved in the negligence.
Devender Yadav, president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, termed the incident "administrative negligence" and demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation for the family. Meanwhile, AAP's Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj criticized MLA Sood for allegedly making excuses instead of promising an impartial inquiry.
Ongoing Investigations and Future Measures
Minister Sood assured that a circular had been issued for a joint inspection by the district magistrate, sub-divisional magistrate, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), and senior PWD officials to issue necessary directions. He vowed, "No one will be spared," with action to be taken against officials found responsible. The government is closely monitoring the probe, according to a senior official, though Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has not made a public statement.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about public safety and accountability in urban infrastructure projects, with opposition leaders calling for stricter oversight and consequences to prevent future tragedies.
