Noida residents say repeated complaints were ignored until tragedy struck, turning a routine commute into a fatal reminder of civic apathy, and claiming the life of a young techie.
BY PC Bureau
January 18, 2026 — A 27-year-old software engineer died after his car plunged into a deep, water-filled drainage ditch in Noida late Friday night, triggering public outrage over alleged civic negligence and unsafe road conditions.
The victim, identified as Yuvraj Mehta, was returning home from work when the accident occurred near Sector 150 amid dense fog. According to police, Mehta’s car struck an unmarked ridge separating two drainage basins along a service road before falling nearly 70 feet into the ditch.
With poor visibility and no reflectors or warning signage along the stretch, the vehicle quickly submerged in water. Passersby who heard Mehta’s cries attempted to help but were unable to reach the car.
In a desperate final call, Mehta contacted his father, Rajkumar Mehta, pleading for help. “I’ve fallen into a deep pit filled with water. I’m drowning. Please come and save me. I don’t want to die,” he reportedly said.
Emergency responders, including local police, divers, and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. Mehta’s father also arrived at the scene. After nearly five hours, the car was pulled out of the ditch, but Mehta was declared dead.
Following the incident, the family filed a formal complaint alleging gross negligence by civic authorities. They claimed the service road lacked reflectors, barricades, or drain covers—hazards made more dangerous by foggy conditions.
READ: The Death of Nengtinglhing Haokip: A Damning Verdict on CBI Apathy
27 y/o lost his life in an open nala in Noida sector 150 aka Ram Rajya
> Couldn’t swim, tried to survive by standing on his car
> Police came, said they can’t swim
> called Fire Brigade
> called SDRF
> SDRF said they didn’t have equipments
> A local guy tried, failed. pic.twitter.com/1yA8vOmfXO— Aman Anurag (@The_AmanAnurag) January 18, 2026
Knowledge Park Police Station in-charge Sarvesh Kumar said an investigation is underway and assured that legal action would be taken if negligence is established.
The death sparked protests by local residents, who accused authorities of ignoring repeated warnings about the dangerous stretch. Demonstrators gathered near the site, shouting slogans and demanding accountability, saying their long-standing appeals for safety measures had gone unheeded.
Hours after the accident, authorities filled the ditch with garbage and debris—a move that further angered residents, who alleged it was an attempt to conceal evidence rather than address systemic safety failures.
The incident has renewed calls for urgent road safety audits and accountability in Noida’s rapidly expanding urban corridors
