Greater Noida, Jan 18, 2026: A tragic road accident claimed the life of a 27-year-old software engineer, Yuvraj Mehta, after his car plunged into a water-filled basement in Sector 150, Greater Noida, late Saturday night. According to police, the accident occurred when Mehta’s vehicle broke through the boundary wall of a roadside drain near an under-construction building. As a result, the car became fully submerged, leaving the young techie trapped inside.
Victim’s Distress Call to Father
Shortly after the crash, Mehta managed to call his father, Raj Kumar Mehta, from inside the submerged car. However, help did not arrive in time. Speaking to the media, the grieving father recalled his son’s last words: “Papa, I am stuck. The car has fallen into the drain.”
Meanwhile, Raj Kumar Mehta rushed to the spot but said rescue teams lacked immediate resources. According to him, no swimmer was available despite the deep water. Friends of the victim also alleged delays in the rescue response, claiming teams arrived nearly two hours later.
Eyewitness Accounts Raise Questions Over Rescue Delay
An eyewitness said Mehta remained trapped in the car for nearly two hours, pleading for help. Additionally, another friend claimed that rescue teams could not enter the water for a long time after reaching the site.
Consequently, authorities called in teams from the NDRF, SDRF and fire services around midnight. After several hours of search operations, responders recovered Mehta’s body in the early morning. Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar Chaubey confirmed that teams remained at the site until around 5 am.
Police Cite Speed and Poor Visibility as Possible Causes
Police said Mehta was driving a Grand Vitara when he lost control while taking a turn. Accordingly, the car hit the drain’s boundary wall and fell into the flooded basement. A preliminary investigation points to poor visibility and high speed as likely factors behind the crash.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hemant Upadhyay said the drain was around six to seven feet wide and posed a risk at night. Moreover, Mehta’s father alleged that residents had earlier asked authorities to install barricades and reflectors near the drain, but officials took no action.
Overall, police said they are still examining how the car became fully submerged and assured further investigation into safety lapses at the site.
