A tragic accident in Noida’s Sector 150 has sparked serious questions over civic negligence after a young software engineer drowned in a 70-foot-deep, water-filled construction ditch late Friday night. The victim, 30-year-old Yuvraj Mehta, reportedly struggled for nearly two hours waiting for rescue that never came.
Yuvraj, who worked as a software engineer with Dunnhumby in Gurugram, lost control of his car amid dense fog and low visibility. His vehicle plunged into an uncovered construction pit near a road turn. According to his father, Rajkumar Mehta, Yuvraj immediately called him after the accident and kept crying for help while stranded on the roof of his sinking car.
“My son was shouting and signalling for help. People gathered, but most just stood there, some even making videos. There were no divers, no proper equipment. He fought for his life for two hours,” his father said, alleging gross negligence by the authorities.
Rescue teams reached the spot within minutes, but lacked the necessary resources to enter the deep, waterlogged ditch. Yuvraj reportedly used his phone’s flashlight to indicate his position in the thick fog. In a desperate attempt to save him, a Flipkart delivery agent tied a rope around his waist and jumped into the pit, but the effort failed. By then, Yuvraj had died.
The site reportedly had no barricades, warning signs, reflectors, or proper lighting. Yuvraj’s body and the car were recovered nearly five hours later.
Following the incident, the Noida Authority terminated a junior engineer and issued show-cause notices to other officials responsible for traffic-related work in the area. An official inquiry is underway to determine responsibility, as the road lies in a partially developed sector.
Yuvraj hailed from Sitamarhi, Bihar. His mother passed away two years ago, and his sister lives in the UK. The family has demanded strict action to ensure such a tragedy is never repeated.
