Trapped, Calling for Help, and Left to Die: Noida Techie’s Death in Waterlogged Pit Sparks National Outrage Over Urban Apathy
Indian Police authorities have arrested a real estate developer in connection with the death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, who drowned after his car plunged into an unsecured water-filled pit in Greater Noida’s Sector 150 on the night of January 17.
Abhay Kumar, Director of MZ Wiztown Planners, was taken into custody on Tuesday, days after public outrage over the incident triggered a high-level investigation and the suspension of top civic officials.
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He managed to exit the car and stood atop it for nearly 90 minutes, repeatedly calling for help, but drowned before emergency responders could rescue him.
The Greater Noida police registered an FIR against two developers, MZ Wiztown Planners and Lotus Greens, invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide, death by negligence, and endangering life.
The FIR followed a complaint filed by Mehta’s father, who alleged systemic failure and a delayed rescue operation. Lotus Greens has since claimed the land was transferred in 2019–20 and that it bears no responsibility for the site’s condition.
In a parallel development, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by ADG Bhanu Bhaskar has begun an inquiry into lapses by developers, the Noida Authority, and emergency services.
The panel has five days to report its findings to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who ordered the probe and removed Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M from his post.
The SIT is also investigating why the pit was left unsecured for years and why emergency responders failed to act despite being on-site during the critical window.
The accident site, a large excavation pit filled with rain and sewage water, was reportedly unbarricaded and unmarked despite being just metres from a public road with a sharp 90-degree bend.
Witnesses, including a truck driver who survived a similar incident two weeks earlier, have corroborated the absence of safety signage or barriers.
Mehta’s death has raised serious concerns about urban planning and disaster response in one of India’s most planned cities. According to eyewitnesses, over 100 people watched the young engineer plead for help while police and firefighters hesitated to enter the water.
Officials later claimed poor visibility and possible submerged hazards prevented immediate action. The victim’s post-mortem report confirmed death by drowning and asphyxia, and the car was retrieved four days later by the National Disaster Response Force.
The Uttar Pradesh government has directed local authorities to audit all ongoing construction projects for compliance with safety norms, while investigators continue to examine the chain of responsibility in the incident.