How Did a Bank Employee Tragically Fall to His Death in a DJB Project Pit?
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Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 6 (NationPress) A private bank employee met with a tragic fate on Thursday night when he fell into a pit dug for a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) project while riding his bicycle in Janakpuri, located in West Delhi. The pit was reportedly enclosed with green mesh. Following this incident, the Delhi government launched an investigation and suspended three officials for their roles.
The victim, identified as Kamal Dhayani, aged 25, hailed from Vikaspuri. His body and bicycle were recovered from a pit approximately four meters deep on Joginder Singh Marg at around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, according to police reports.
An FIR has been filed under relevant legal provisions to assess potential negligence and determine accountability for this tragic event.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy involving techie Yuvraj Mehta, who died in a water-filled pit in Noida, igniting political tensions in the capital as the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the government of negligence.
The Delhi Water Minister, Parvesh Sahib Singh, expressed serious concerns regarding lapses in safety measures at the project site and has initiated an inquiry.
Three officials, including the area Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer, and Junior Engineer, have been suspended for their alleged negligence.
“A serious view has been taken of the tragic accident at the Janakpuri Line Rehabilitation Project site. The Delhi Jal Board has formed a high-level Inquiry Committee to conduct a thorough investigation,” the Minister stated on social media after visiting the site.
The Inquiry Committee is tasked with inspecting the accident location, reviewing safety protocols, checking compliance with safety regulations, and identifying any lapses for accountability and necessary corrective actions.
The Minister emphasized that citizen safety is a fundamental priority and affirmed that accountability will be strictly enforced to prevent such incidents from recurring.
In a statement, the Delhi Jal Board revealed that preliminary investigations indicated that while the road and pit were barricaded with green mesh, safety measures around the excavation site did not fully comply with the prescribed standards, leading to serious safety concerns as two-wheelers continued to navigate the area.
Dhayani’s brother recounted that the incident likely occurred between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, stating, “We last spoke to him at 11:30 p.m., and he indicated he was near the District Centre, expecting to be home in 15 minutes. After 30 minutes without a response to our calls, we alerted the police.”