Lucknow, Jan 22 (NationPress) Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for the unfortunate death of a software engineer in Noida, claiming that it was a result of administrative negligence.

The deceased, Yuvraj Mehta, aged 27, who worked in Gurugram, was on his way home late on January 16 when his vehicle plunged into a deep, water-filled pit near a construction site in Sector 150 after going through a damaged boundary wall amidst fog.

He reportedly cried out for help for nearly two hours as his father and personnel from the NOIDA police and fire department looked on helplessly.

By the time rescue operations were escalated by the police along with the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force in the dense fog and extreme cold, he had already succumbed. His father, Rajkumar Mehta, witnessed the entire ordeal.

Rajkumar mentioned that Yuvraj climbed onto the roof of the partially submerged vehicle and utilized his mobile phone's flashlight to signal for assistance in the thick fog while continuously calling for help.

However, the absence of adequate rescue equipment delayed the efforts, and the darkness, dense fog, and near-zero visibility hindered any rescue attempts.

Police and fire officials hesitated to enter the water due to freezing conditions and the dangers posed by the under-construction columns within the basement.

Yadav asserted to reporters that the primary concern should be the government's failure to save Yuvraj's life after the incident, rather than the circumstances surrounding his return.

“The issue is not about whether he was returning from a party or where the event occurred. Why were the government and its departments incapable of saving his life after the tragedy?” he asked.

He further noted that reports indicated officials were reluctant to enter the pit because of the frigid water.

“If someone lost their life due to this delay, it is the result of the government’s negligence. Such incidents must not happen again,” stated the former UP Chief Minister.

In the meantime, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the death has filed a new FIR against five builders associated with Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd and MZ Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd for alleged breaches of environmental and pollution control regulations.

The SIT continued its investigation for the third consecutive day on Thursday.

Sources familiar with the investigation indicated that the SIT has requested detailed information from various departments of the Noida Authority, including civil, projects, and traffic cells, regarding the activities in Sector 150, especially around the site where the software engineer lost his life.

The three-member SIT must submit its findings to the UP government by Saturday. SIT head and ADG of the Meerut Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar, had informed reporters of the timeline at the onset of inspections.

A new case was registered on Wednesday at the Knowledge Park police station against Abhay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Manish Kumar, Anchal Bohra, and Nirmal Kumar.

According to the complaint made by local Sub-Inspector Regal Kumar, a “very large and wide pit” was discovered during patrol on January 20 at plot number SC-02/A3 in Sector 150, in proximity to a public road.

The pit appears to have been excavated using heavy machinery and has remained filled with water for several years.

The FIR indicated that the pit was alarmingly deep and that the prolonged stagnation of water had led to severe pollution, turning the water murky over time.

It further noted that rainwater had washed debris into the pit, exacerbating air and water pollution and posing serious risks to public health and safety.

The police also observed that there were no safety measures, such as fencing or warning signs, around the pit. Leaving such a large, open, and waterlogged excavation near a public road for an extended period poses a significant danger to human life and dramatically increases the risk of major accidents, the FIR stated, categorizing it as a public nuisance.

The FIR additionally highlighted that multiple construction sites were situated close to the pit, indicating breaches of construction management regulations. Local residents have reported a foul odor emanating from the stagnant water, making it difficult to breathe when winds blow toward nearby residential areas.

During the inquiry, police discovered that the plot had been sold by the Noida Authority in 2014 to Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd and was subsequently acquired in 2020 by Wiztown. The FIR noted that Lotus Greens Construction still holds a stake in the property.

The first FIR regarding this case was filed on January 18 based on a complaint from Yuvraj Mehta’s father against MZ Wiztown Planners and Lotus Greens.

On Tuesday, Abhay Kumar, director of MZ Wiztown Planners, was arrested and has been placed in judicial custody as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the techie's demise continue.