The death of a 27-year-old Indian IT professional after his car fell into an unmarked construction pit has raised questions around urban planning and road safety in India. Last Friday, at around midnight, Yuvraj Mehta was driving home in Noida, a suburb of the capital Delhi, through dense winter fog when his car reportedly hit a low boundary wall and plunged into the deep pit full of water. The site had reportedly been dug up a few years ago before work was stalled.
Mehta, who didn't know how to swim, climbed on to the roof of his car as it began to sink and rang his father who rushed to the scene and alerted the emergency services. His father told reporters that Mehta remained there for close to two hours, flashing the torch on his phone and shouting for help.
Then, his cries stopped. By the time authorities recovered his body, almost five hours had passed since the accident, local media reported. Mehta's tragic death has made national headlines, and the fact that it happened so close to the capital city has shocked and angered residents. Protests have been held at the accident site, with demonstrators accusing authorities of negligence and demanding accountability.
His death has also fueled larger questions about the state of Indian roads and urban planning. Social media users expressed their outrage, with one stating, Noida techie's [Mehta's] death is essentially a murder. Dreams shattered. Hard work gone in vain. Father’s hopes buried. All because of a failed system.
Since the accident, police in Noida have registered two cases against the real estate developers of the construction site where the pit was located following a complaint from Mehta's family. Additionally, the government of Uttar Pradesh has removed a senior official from the township's governing authority and ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the rescue operation and site safety.
The sad incident highlights the ongoing issues with road safety and urban infrastructure in India, raising urgent calls for reform and accountability.
Mehta, who didn't know how to swim, climbed on to the roof of his car as it began to sink and rang his father who rushed to the scene and alerted the emergency services. His father told reporters that Mehta remained there for close to two hours, flashing the torch on his phone and shouting for help.
Then, his cries stopped. By the time authorities recovered his body, almost five hours had passed since the accident, local media reported. Mehta's tragic death has made national headlines, and the fact that it happened so close to the capital city has shocked and angered residents. Protests have been held at the accident site, with demonstrators accusing authorities of negligence and demanding accountability.
His death has also fueled larger questions about the state of Indian roads and urban planning. Social media users expressed their outrage, with one stating, Noida techie's [Mehta's] death is essentially a murder. Dreams shattered. Hard work gone in vain. Father’s hopes buried. All because of a failed system.
Since the accident, police in Noida have registered two cases against the real estate developers of the construction site where the pit was located following a complaint from Mehta's family. Additionally, the government of Uttar Pradesh has removed a senior official from the township's governing authority and ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the rescue operation and site safety.
The sad incident highlights the ongoing issues with road safety and urban infrastructure in India, raising urgent calls for reform and accountability.
