Techie drowns after car plunges into water-filled drain
The death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta in Noida has sparked outrage after a series of disturbing details emerged. Mehta drowned after his car plunged into a water-filled drain in Sector 150 late on January 16 while he was returning home from work in Gurugram. According to police, the vehicle broke through the boundary wall at an intersection and fell into the flooded pit. Despite repeated cries for help and hours of rescue attempts, Mehta could not be saved and died in the early hours of Saturday.
Victim waited on car roof as rescue efforts failed
After the crash, Mehta managed to climb onto the roof of his car. Around midnight, he called his father, Raj Kumar, and pleaded for help. Eyewitnesses said he remained stranded for nearly 90 minutes as dense fog reduced visibility. Police reached the spot, but initial rescue efforts failed. Ropes fell short, ladders could not bridge the gap, and cranes arrived late. Mehta eventually drowned when the car sank completely. A delivery agent named Moninder later entered the pit using a rope and searched for the victim, saying timely help could have saved his life.
FIR against builders, arrest made, car recovered
Police registered an FIR against Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd and MZ Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd, the developers linked to the pit. The case includes charges of culpable homicide and death by negligence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators cited poor visibility and possible speeding as causes of the crash. The post-mortem report confirmed ante-mortem drowning leading to cardiac arrest. On Tuesday, police arrested MZ Wiztown promoter Abhay Kumar. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) later recovered Mehta’s car after a six-hour operation.
SIT formed; eyewitness alleges police pressure
Authorities formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe lapses in rescue efforts and administrative negligence. The SIT met Mehta’s father and questioned officials from the police, fire department, SDRF, and Noida Authority. Meanwhile, eyewitness Moninder alleged that police pressured him to give statements favouring the rescue operation. He claimed officers scolded him and asked him to follow a “script” during a recorded video. Moninder said he initially agreed out of fear but later decided to speak the truth. The allegations have intensified demands for accountability in the Noida techie death case.
