Noida: A letter issued by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department to the Noida Authority had warned of the urgent need to construct head regulators in Sector 150 to flush out accumulated rainwater and drain discharge — a measure that was never implemented. The lapse has now come under scrutiny after a 27-year-old software engineer lost his life when his car plunged into a deep, waterlogged pit in the area.
The victim, Yuvraj Mehta, died in the early hours of Saturday after his car skidded amid dense fog, broke through a drain boundary and fell into a water-filled excavation pit, dug for the basement of an under-construction commercial complex near a drain in Sector 150.
Drainage Project Flagged in 2023 but Never Implemented
According to an official communication issued in 2023, the UP Irrigation Department had formally informed the Noida Authority about the necessity of installing head regulators in Sector 150. These structures were meant to regulate water flow, prevent silt accumulation, and channel excess rainwater and drainage discharge into the Hindon river.
The letter, accessed by PTI, also stated that budgetary provisions had already been made for the project. Despite this, the work was never taken up.
A Noida Authority official said on Monday that he was not aware of the irrigation department’s letter.
How Water Accumulated at the Accident Site
Officials said the partially constructed basement where the car fell had accumulated water not only due to rainfall but also because of continuous discharge from drains connected to nearby residential societies.
Due to restrictions on releasing excess water into the Hindon river, the water level in the pit kept rising over time, eventually resembling a lake-like water body, according to the complaint filed by the victim’s father.
Locals Say Tragedy Was Preventable
Residents of Sector 150 staged protest marches, claiming the tragedy could have been avoided had the proposed head regulators been constructed. They alleged repeated complaints about waterlogging, unsafe construction practices, and lack of barricading were ignored.
Following protests on Saturday and Sunday, the Noida Authority finally installed barricades at the site.
Father Seeks Accountability, FIR Filed
Yuvraj Mehta’s father, Raj Kumar Mehta, has accused local authorities and developers of gross negligence and demanded accountability.
Police have registered an FIR against two real estate developers — M/s Wishtown Planners and Lotus Greens — at the Knowledge Park Police Station based on his complaint.
“The pit, about 50 feet deep, had turned into a water body like a lake or pond. There was no barricading or reflective signage around the plot,” the complaint stated, alleging negligence that directly led to the fatal accident.
The FIR has been filed under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 106 (causing death by negligence), and 125 (act endangering life or personal safety) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with other relevant provisions.
Lotus Greens Denies Responsibility
Responding to the allegations, Lotus Greens said it had no role in the incident, claiming the plot was transferred in 2019–20 to the Grihapravesh Group with Noida Authority’s approval.
The company said the new owners had begun basement construction, which was later stalled due to litigation with lenders.
“Lotus Greens fully condemns this incident and understands the family’s pain. We stand with them in their pursuit of justice,” the developer said in a statement.
SIT Probe Ordered
The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident to examine possible lapses by authorities and developers.
Speaking earlier, the grieving father said he wanted accountability to ensure that “no other parent loses their son like this in the future.”