A 27-year-old software engineer died after his car hit the edge of a drainage structure and fell into a deep ditch during heavy fogin Noida. The accident happened on Friday night near Sector 150 when the techie, Yuvraj Mehta, was returning home from work.
Because of the dense fogand the lack of reflectors on the road, Yuvraj’s car crashed into a raised boundary that separates two drainage basins and fell into a 70-feet-deep water-filled ditch. Some passersby heard his screams and tried to help, but the car was fully submerged. Yuvraj even called his father, Rajkumar Mehta, and said, “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,” NDTV reported.
Rescue teams reached quickly but could not save him
Within minutes, local police, divers, and NDRF teams reached the spot and began the rescue operation. Yuvraj’s father was also present at the site. After nearly five hours of effort, the car and Yuvraj were pulled out of the ditch, but he was declared dead, the report mentioned.
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Following the tragedy, the family filed a complaint, saying authorities had failed to install reflectors or cover the drains along the service road. His father said the absence of reflectors during heavy fog led to the accident. Knowledge Park Police Station in-charge Sarvesh Kumar said that any negligence will be investigated and legal action will follow.
Locals protest over poor road safety measures
The incident triggered strong anger among locals, who held protests and shouted slogans against the authorities. They said they had repeatedly asked for reflectors and signboards on the service road, but nothing was done.
Soon after the incident, authorities filled the deep ditch with tons of garbage and debris.
Similar accident reported 10 days earlier
Residents also pointed out that a similar accident happened around 10 days earlier, when a truck hit the same drain wall but the driver was “saved in the nick of time”.
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“No repair work was done even after that. The Vitara ploughed through the same broken wall. The incident could have been avoided,” Times of India reported quoting a resident as saying.
Yuvraj lived with his father in Tata Eureka Park in Sector 150. He had lost his mother two years ago and was the only earning member of the family. His elder sister is married and lives in the UK. |
