Noida techie's last moments: Yuvraj fought for 90 mins, flashed torch, cried for help before falling silent

Noida techie death

• Noida techie died after SUV fell into unsecured, water-filled pit in dense fog
• Rescue delayed; unsafe pit leads to FIR against builders
• Victim struggled for 90 minutes, signaling for help before falling silent.

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The 27-year-old software engineer, who lost his life after his SUV fell into a deep, water-filled pit in Greater Noida’s Sector 150 late on a foggy night, struggled for nearly 90 minutes to stay alive. The deceased, Yuvraj Mehta, constantly called for help and flashed his phone’s torch, before his cries went silent, even as his father stood just a few feet away, unable to reach him.

Read: Noida techie death: Autopsy confirms cardiac arrest killed Yuvraj Mehta after car plunged into freezing water

Read: 'Papa, I don't want to die': No one saved Noida techie, only a delivery agent dared to jump into freezing water

The accident took place around 12.30 am when Mehta was returning home and negotiating a sharp turn near ATS Le Grandiose society. Due to dense fog and poor visibility, his Grand Vitara broke through a damaged boundary wall and plunged into a deep excavation dug for a commercial project.

The pit, more than 20 feet deep and filled with water, was barely visible from the road. According to police, the area had no barricades, fencing, reflectors or warning lights, making it extremely dangerous, especially during winter fog.

Unsecured construction pit turns deadly

Police officials said the excavation site had been left uncovered for a long time. The pit, filled with stagnant water, blended into the foggy surroundings, leaving drivers with no warning.

Mehta, who could not swim, somehow managed to escape the sinking vehicle and climb onto its roof as the SUV slowly went under water. From there, he kept flashing his mobile phone’s torch through the thick fog in the hope that someone would spot him.

Investigators later said the lack of basic safety measures around the construction site was a major factor in the tragedy. Residents claimed the pit had been dug nearly two years ago for a proposed mall project and was later abandoned without any safety cover.

Locals also alleged that sewage water from nearby housing societies had collected in the pit, increasing its depth and danger.

Desperate calls and delayed rescue

Minutes after the crash, Mehta managed to call his father, Raj Mehta, a retired State Bank of India official who lives in the same sector. He shared his WhatsApp location and told him he was trapped inside a pit.

Raj Mehta rushed to the spot and immediately called emergency number 112. Due to heavy fog, visibility was extremely poor. People standing near the pit could hear Mehta crying for help but could barely see anything.

An official said visibility was so poor that teams could not see even 10 metres ahead.

Police and fire department teams tried to rescue Mehta by throwing ropes into the pit, but they fell short of reaching him. Firefighters later brought a crane and ladders, but the depth and distance made the task difficult.

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel reached early but lacked proper equipment for such a deep-water rescue. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was later called in from Ghaziabad, causing further delay.

A delivery worker named Moninder jumped into the freezing water after hearing Mehta’s cries. He searched for nearly 30 minutes but failed to find him due to muddy water and darkness.

Moninder alleged that rescue efforts were delayed and poorly handled. He claimed that fire brigade officials lacked the willpower to enter the drain to save Yuvraj.

According to Moninder, Yuvraj was alive after the car fell into the pit. He was holding a torch and shouting for help from inside the vehicle. Moninder said rescue personnel refused to enter the water-filled drain, citing cold water and the possibility of iron rods inside.

By around 1.45 am, nearly 90 minutes after the accident, Mehta’s cries stopped. His body was finally recovered around 4.30 am, almost four hours after the crash.

Police said initial findings point to dense fog and possible overspeeding but also clearly flagged the unsecured excavation as a major safety risk. Based on a complaint filed by Mehta’s father, an FIR was registered against MZ Wishtown Planners and Lotus Greens Construction.

The case has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, causing death by negligence, and acts endangering life. The FIR stated that the plot had no barricading or reflectors and that the builders were seriously negligent.

Yuvraj Mehta lived with his father and worked as a software engineer in Gurugram. He had lost his mother two years ago and was the sole earning member of his family.