Yuvraj Mehta, a 27-year-old software engineer, died on 17/1 after his oto plunged into a water pit in Noida city, Uttar Pradesh state.

According to police and witness accounts, Yuvraj was driving home after midnight in dense fog when his vehicle struck a low barrier and fell into a water pit, about 21 meters deep and as wide as a pond. This area had been excavated for the basement of a building in a stalled construction project.

The wide and deep water pit where Yuvraj Mehta met his accident. Photo: Indian Express

Indian media reported that Yuvraj managed to escape the vehicle, standing on its roof as it slowly sank. While struggling to stay afloat, he called his father, Raj Kumar Mehta, for help.

Raj stated that upon his arrival, Yuvraj was still alive but trapped, with no one able to reach him.

A passerby named Moninder attempted to rescue Yuvraj by tying a rope around his waist and descending into the pit around 1 am, but after 30 minutes of searching in the dark, he could not locate the victim or the car.

Emergency rescue forces, including police, arrived at the scene, but Moninder asserted they did not enter the water. "They said, 'The water is too cold, there are iron rods in the pit, we won't go down'", Hindustan Times quoted Moninder.

Moninder added that Yuvraj cried for help for nearly two hours before falling silent.

Rescue forces at the scene. Photo: PTI

Police officials confirmed that multiple agencies were notified shortly after midnight, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), but professional divers only arrived several hours later.

Yuvraj is believed to have drowned around 2:30 am. His body was found after sunrise, nearly five hours after the accident.

Hemant Upadhyay, assistant commissioner of police for the Greater Noida area, stated that officers were concerned about additional casualties if untrained individuals entered the pit. "The water is very deep, visibility is poor, and there are concerns about submerged debris. We feared more people would die", Hemant said.

The incident caused outrage among the local community, with some organizing protests at the site, accusing authorities of negligence and delays in handling the situation. Yuvraj's family also claimed that authorities ignored repeated warnings about the dangerous pit, uncovered drains, and the lack of reflective signs along the road.

"The accident could have been prevented", Raj said.

Yuvraj Mehta's car was salvaged on 20/1. Photo: The Hindu

Police have filed a criminal case against two local real estate developers following a complaint from the victim's family.

The complaint holds five individuals responsible for environmental violations that contributed to the formation of the fatal pit, including failing to repair a collapsed drain and allowing uncontrolled water accumulation since 2021.

Immediately after the incident, the pit was filled with debris and waste, drawing further criticism from residents who accused authorities of attempting to destroy evidence.

The incident also led to the dismissal of several senior officials in the local administration. Uttar Pradesh state has ordered a special investigation into the rescue operation and safety at the scene.

Tue Anh (according to Independent, Hindustan Times)