27-year-old techie dies after falling into unmarked ditch on Noida road

Noida: A 27-year-old software engineer lost his life after his car plunged into a deep drainage ditch in Noida on Friday night, triggering public outrage over alleged civic negligence.

The victim, identified as Yuvraj Mehta, was returning home from work when the accident occurred near Sector 150 amid dense fog. According to the police, Mehta’s car struck a raised ridge separating two drainage channels before falling into a nearly 70-foot-deep ditch filled with water.

Poor visibility and the absence of reflectors or warning signage along the service road are believed to have contributed to the crash. Passers-by reportedly heard Mehta screaming for help and attempted a rescue, but the vehicle had already become fully submerged. In a distressing final call, Mehta contacted his father, Rajkumar Mehta, telling him that he was trapped in a water-filled pit and feared he would drown.

Emergency services, including local police, divers and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), reached the site within minutes and launched a rescue operation. Mehta’s father was also present during the efforts. After nearly five hours, rescuers managed to retrieve the car and pull Mehta from the ditch, but he was declared dead.

Following the incident, Mehta’s family lodged a complaint alleging serious lapses by the authorities. They claimed that drains along the service road had neither been covered nor marked with reflectors, making the area extremely dangerous, especially during foggy conditions. Knowledge Park police station in-charge Sarvesh Kumar said the matter is under investigation and that appropriate legal action will be taken if negligence is established.

The incident has sparked widespread anger among local residents, several of whom staged protests and raised slogans against the authorities. Protesters claimed they had repeatedly warned officials about the lack of reflectors and signage on the road but were ignored.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, authorities reportedly filled the deep ditch with tonnes of garbage and debris, a move that has further drawn criticism from residents questioning why preventive measures were not taken earlier.