Noida Techie’s Death Sparks Outrage: 90 Minutes of Cries, But Rescue Failed; Why?

Why Did Noida Techie Die After 90 Minutes of Cries in Fog? Rescue Lapses Under Scanner

Noida witnessed a tragic death of a young software engineer, Yuvraj Mehta, whose SUV crashed through a damaged boundary wall amid poor visibility at midnight on Friday (January, 16, 2026) and drowned into a flooded pit dug up for a project in Sector 150.

What Happened to Yuvraj Mehta?

Mehta was returning home to Tata Eureka Park in Noida Sector 150. While navigating a turn in heavy fog, his Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara jumped an unguarded drain and crashed into a deep pit. 

Yuvraj, who didn’t know swimming, put up a valiant and heart-wrenching effort to get out of the car, climbed onto its roof and even called his father and friend. The 27-year-old software engineer stood atop his car after it plunged the rainwater-filled construction pit and shouted for help in the freezing winter night. 

The authorities, according to the friend and father, failed to rescue Mehta in time. Mehta’s body and his car were pulled out of the pit after five hours.

“The excavation site had no barricades, reflectors or warning signs,” police said.

Why did the Rescue Fail?

Emergency teams from the local police, fire department, State Disaster Response Force, and National Disaster Response Force were alerted. However, dense winter fog delayed their arrival and hampered visibility at the site. 

“We made all efforts to rescue him, but due to the depth of the water collected in the under-construction vacant plot, it was difficult to save him in the darkness and dense fog. We were afraid that there could be more casualties if someone entered the water to rescue him. It could have been worse for us,” Hemant Upadhyay, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Greater Noida said to news agency.

By the time rescuers reached the pit, Mehta was already standing on the partially submerged vehicle.

According to police, multiple rescue attempts failed due to distance and depth. Ropes thrown into the pit could not reach him. Firefighters deployed cranes and ladders, but those too fell short of the depth required. 

A police officer said the pit was far from the road and filled with deep water, making access extremely difficult.

What did an Eyewitness Reveal?

Moninder, an eyewitness who works as a delivery agent, said, “For around one hour and forty-five minutes, he kept pleading for help, saying, ‘please save me, save me in any way possible,” Moninder told reporters.

In contrast to the authorities' version, the family members and eyewitnesses alleged that rescue efforts were delayed despite multiple agencies being present at the spot.

“My son himself called me while he was trapped. He said, ‘papa, mujhe bacha lo,’” his father Raj Kumar Mehta said.

Final Thoughts

The post-mortem examination of Yuvraj Mehta has confirmed that the cause of death was cardiac arrest. An FIR was registered at the Knowledge Park Police Station on the basis of a complaint filed by Mehta’s family. The incident is now under investigation.

The shocking incident triggered allegations of negligence, delayed rescue efforts, and administrative lapses at an accident-prone construction site.