Amid growing outrage over the drowning death of Yuvraj Mehta, 27, in Noida, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death. The government also removed IAS officer Lokesh M from the post of Noida Authority as its chief executive officer and put him on a waitlist.
The three-member SIT led by ADG Zone Meerut is expected to submit a report regarding its preliminary probe within five days. The Meerut divisional commissioner and the PWD Chief Engineer are also part of the SIT. The government said strict action will be taken against those responsible once the SIT submits its report.
Local residents alleged negligence by local authority and real estate developers which they claimed led to the death and held protest marches. Yuvraj's family members and local residents in Noida Sector 150 have blamed the authorities for not providing basic safety amenities in the area, including barricading, lighting, mobile coverage and proper drain coverings.
Yuvraj Mehta died after his Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara fell into a ditch as dense fog reduced visibility on the road in Noida Sector 150. After falling, Yuvraj managed to get out of his car and climb onto its roof. In his final call to his father, the techie said, "Please come and save me. I don’t want to die."
Though local police, fire brigade and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived at the spot, the rescue operation was delayed.
A delivery agent who tried to save Mehta also blamed the authorities for not taking timely action. By the time Yuvraj and his vehicle were pulled out, he was declared dead.
The autopsy revealed the cause of death as asphyxia due to ante-mortem drowning, which was followed by a cardiac arrest.
Police claimed that they feared more people could have died if they entered the water to rescue Yuvraj. "It could have been worse for us," Hemant Upadhyay, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Greater Noida, said.
Police have registered an FIR against two builders, MJ Wishtown Planner Ltd and Lotus Green Construction Ltd, who owned the land.
Blaming government negligence, former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav posted on X, "This is extremely sad and a tragedy that occurred due to government negligence—something that could have been prevented in time. The pain of losing one’s own can only be understood by the bereaved family."