A tragic incident in Janakpuri, Delhi, has left the city in shock after a man died falling into a nearly 15-foot-deep pit dug for a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) sewerage project. Police confirmed that the sub-contractor responsible for the site failed to alert authorities, delaying rescue efforts.
The victim, Kamal Dhyani, a private bank employee residing in Kailashpuri, was returning home when he accidentally fell into the pit in the early hours of Friday. According to eyewitness Vipin Singh, who saw the fall while driving past, the incident was immediately reported to a guard on site, who then informed a labourer named Yogesh.
The labourer called his supervisor, sub-contractor Rajesh Kumar Prajapati, who reached the scene within 20 minutes. However, Prajapati did not notify the police or any emergency services. Authorities only learned of the incident at around 8:30 a.m., nearly eight hours later.
Delhi Police have arrested Prajapati, and teams are tracing the labourer, Yogesh, believed to be from Uttar Pradesh. Three DJB engineers have been suspended, and an FIR has been filed under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering culpable homicide and negligence. The post-mortem report is expected on Sunday.
Police said initial delays in locating Dhyani were due to insufficient information and the absence of CCTV footage, which is currently being analyzed. The victim’s family initially searched hospitals and only traced the accident site later using mobile phone location data.
This incident has reignited concerns over safety protocols at construction sites and the accountability of contractors. Officials are expected to review safety measures for all ongoing public works projects to prevent similar tragedies.
