New Delhi (IANS): A 27-year-old software engineer died in a harrowing accident on Friday night after his car careened into an open, water-filled drainage ditch near Sector 150. The tragedy, attributed to dense fog and gross negligence in road safety, has sparked massive protests from residents against the Greater Noida Authority.
The victim, identified as Yuvraj Mehta, was driving home from work when his vehicle struck a high-ground ridge and plunged into a 70-foot-deep pit.
“Dad, I’m Drowning”: A Heart-Wrenching Final Call
In a chilling detail that has devastated the community, Yuvraj managed to place a final phone call to his father, Rajkumar Mehta, as the car began to submerge.
“Dad, I’ve fallen into a deep pit filled with water. I’m drowning. Please come and save me. I don’t want to die,” Yuvraj reportedly told his father during the frantic call.
Despite a massive five-hour rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police, and divers, Yuvraj was pulled from the wreckage without a pulse. He was declared dead at the scene.
Investigation Points to Safety Lapses
The accident has highlighted a lethal combination of weather conditions and administrative failure:
- Zero Visibility: Record-breaking dense fog in the NCR region had reduced visibility to near zero at the time of the crash.
- Missing Infrastructure: The service road lacked basic reflectors, signage, or barriers to alert drivers to the deep drainage basins.
- Uncovered Drains: The 70-foot ditch remained an open hazard despite the area being a high-traffic zone for IT professionals.
Sarvesh Kumar, In-charge of the Knowledge Park Police Station, confirmed that a formal complaint has been filed by the family. “We are investigating the lack of safety measures. Any negligence found on the part of the authorities will lead to strict legal action,” he stated.
Local Outrage and Protests
Residents of Sector 150 and surrounding areas took to the streets on Sunday, shouting slogans against local urban planning bodies. Protesters claim they have submitted multiple requests for road reflectors and drainage covers over the past year, all of which were ignored.
“This wasn’t an accident; it was a result of administrative apathy,” said one resident. “How many lives must be lost before a simple reflector is installed on a service road?”
