Five hours in water: ‘Dad, I’m drowning’- Techie’s final call before fatal Noida accident

A routine drive home turned into a nightmare for 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta on Friday night when his car plunged into a 70-foot-deep drainage ditch near Sector 150, Noida, exposing deadly gaps in road safety and civic maintenance.

Due to dense fog and the absence of reflectors or warning signs, Mehta’s car collided with a high-ground ridge separating two adjacent drainage basins and fell into the water-filled pit. Passers-by heard his screams for help and tried to intervene, but the vehicle was already completely submerged. In a distressing call, Mehta contacted his father, Rajkumar Mehta, saying:

"Dad, I've fallen into a deep pit filled with water. I'm drowning. Please come and save me. I don't want to die."

Within minutes, local police, divers, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams reached the scene and began a rescue operation. Mehta’s father was also present, anxiously awaiting news. After nearly five hours of efforts, rescuers managed to pull the car and Mehta from the ditch, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Residents and Mehta’s family have blamed civic authorities, highlighting that uncovered drains and missing safety signage had been repeatedly reported but ignored. Knowledge Park police confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine if negligence contributed to the tragedy.

The incident sparked widespread public outrage, with protests demanding accountability and stronger road safety measures. Authorities’ post-accident response—filling the ditch with garbage and debris—has further drawn criticism, raising questions about why preventive measures were not implemented earlier.