The Uttar Pradesh government has removed Noida Authority CEO M Lokesh following the death of a 27-year-old software engineer whose car plunged into a water-filled pit at a construction site in Noida’s Sector 150, triggering public outrage and allegations of official negligence.

The victim, Yuvraj Mehta, was returning home from work late on Friday when his vehicle fell into the pit amid dense fog conditions. Police said the engineer suffocated under water and also suffered a cardiac arrest, leading to his death.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident. According to an official statement, the SIT has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation and submit its report to the chief minister within five days.

Allegations of negligence and delayed rescue

The victim’s father, Raj Kumar Mehta, accused local authorities of negligence and demanded accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future. He said responsibility must be fixed so that “no one else loses their son like this”.

A delivery agent who witnessed the incident claimed that rescue efforts were delayed, suggesting that the engineer could have survived if timely action had been taken. Residents of the area staged protests, alleging inadequate barricading and the absence of reflectors at the accident-prone construction site.

Police, however, denied negligence in the rescue operation. An FIR has been registered against two real estate developers following a complaint by the victim’s family.

Barricades installed after protests

After protests by local residents, the Noida Authority installed barricades at the site where the accident occurred. The incident has renewed concerns over safety measures at construction zones, particularly during low-visibility conditions.

The case has sparked wider discussions on accountability and enforcement of safety norms at infrastructure and real estate project sites across the region.

In the wake of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election results, Congress MP and Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad has launched a sharp attack on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing him of lacking confidence in his own corporators.

Speaking to media, Gaikwad dismissed speculation about any defection within the Congress and questioned the decision by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction to move its newly elected corporators to a luxury hotel in Bandra.

Resort politics allegation after BMC polls

Calling it an unprecedented move in the city’s civic politics, Gaikwad alleged that “hotel and resort politics” has entered the BMC for the first time.

She said Shinde’s actions reflected fear that his corporators could switch sides. According to her, such steps exposed a trust deficit within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Gaikwad asserted that the Congress, despite a reduced tally, remains united and rooted among the people. She described the party’s 24 corporators as “24-carat gold,” underlining their loyalty and independence.

Congress dismisses defection speculation

Contrasting the two camps, Gaikwad said Congress corporators were moving freely across the city and staying connected with citizens, unlike those confined to hotels.

She also addressed statements by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who had suggested that political equations could still change in the BMC. Gaikwad clarified that no discussions or negotiations were underway between the Congress and UBT regarding control of the civic body.

“There are no backdoor talks and no such initiative has even begun,” she said, rejecting rumours of a possible shift in power.

Internal dissent reflects democracy, says Gaikwad

Responding to questions on internal dissent within the Mumbai Congress, including demands for her resignation by senior leaders, Gaikwad maintained that such differences reflected internal democracy.

She said leaders in the Congress were free to express opinions, unlike other parties where dissent is not tolerated.

A dense fog and an unguarded construction site turned fatal for a 27-year-old software engineer in Noida, who waited nearly 90 minutes for help after his car slipped into a water-filled ditch late Friday night.

Yuvraj Mehta was driving home from Gurugram when the accident occurred close to midnight amid extremely poor visibility due to a severe cold wave affecting Delhi-NCR. He was barely a kilometre away from his residence in Sector 150 when his vehicle overshot a turn and plunged into a deep pit at a construction site.

Accident near home in low visibility

According to available information, the ditch was part of an under-construction project’s basement and was filled with water. Yuvraj lost control of his car at the final turn leading to his housing complex. Soon after the accident, he managed to call his father, Rajkumar Mehta, seeking urgent help.

The father immediately contacted emergency services. Police were alerted around 12.30 am, with the local police station informed shortly after. Emergency teams reached the spot within minutes, followed by specialised rescue units later in the night.

Pleas for help went unanswered

For nearly an hour and a half, Yuvraj remained trapped inside the submerged vehicle. He kept his phone’s torch switched on and repeatedly called out for help. Despite the presence of police and fire officials, the rescue effort was severely hampered by near-zero visibility caused by dense fog.

Rescue teams attempted to use ropes, ladders, cranes, searchlights and a makeshift boat. However, officials said the fog made it difficult to assess the depth of the water and locate the exact position of the car.

Yuvraj is believed to have drowned around 1.30 am. His body was recovered several hours later, around 4.30 am.

Why the rescue failed

Eyewitnesses claimed that sharp iron rods protruding inside the ditch discouraged responders from entering the water immediately. Police officials, however, denied hesitation and said all possible measures were taken under extremely challenging conditions.

Yuvraj’s father later said that even locating the car was difficult due to the fog. He maintained that trained divers could have made a difference and possibly saved his son.

Good Samaritan’s desperate attempt

A delivery worker named Mohinder attempted a last-ditch rescue after reaching the spot. He tied a rope around his waist and jumped into the water after saying he could swim. By the time he entered the ditch, Yuvraj had already drowned.

Mohinder searched for the victim for nearly 40 minutes but could not find him. He described the turn as extremely dangerous, especially for drivers unfamiliar with the area during foggy conditions, adding that there was no protective wall or warning sign.

Safety lapses under scanner

Residents revealed that a similar accident involving a truck had occurred at the same location days earlier. Despite this, basic safety measures such as barricades, reflectors or warning signs were not installed.

Following the incident, authorities have initiated action. The local junior engineer has been terminated, several officials have been issued notices, and work has begun to fill the ditch. Police have also registered a case against two construction companies linked to the site.

Officials said an investigation is underway and that a wider exercise has been launched to identify and secure similar accident-prone blind spots across the area.