A 24-year-old auto-rickshaw driver was discovered dead next to a drain in Greater Noida's Ecotech 3 area on Monday morning, with police suspecting a hit-and-run involving an unidentified heavy vehicle.
The deceased, identified as Pradeep Kumar, was a native of Etah district and resided with his family in Greater Noida. According to police, Kumar left for work as usual but failed to return home on Monday morning, prompting his family to initiate a search.
During the search, relatives located Kumar's body near a drain, alongside his severely damaged auto-rickshaw, a few meters before the Yamaha Cut in Ecotech 3. Authorities were alerted through the emergency helpline number 112.
A police team arrived at the scene and took custody of the body, which was subsequently sent for post-mortem examination. Preliminary investigations suggest that Kumar was returning home late Sunday night when an unidentified vehicle, believed to be a heavy vehicle, struck his auto-rickshaw from behind. The impact likely caused the auto-rickshaw to lose control and crash into a roadside tree.
Police suspect that Kumar sustained severe injuries in the collision but managed to exit the damaged vehicle. He is thought to have walked a short distance toward the nearby drain before collapsing. Officials noted that the accident may have gone unnoticed as it occurred late at night in an isolated area lacking CCTV surveillance.
Based on a complaint filed by the family, police have registered a case and are working to identify the vehicle and trace the driver. The investigation is ongoing.
