Krishna Karunesh named Noida Authority CEO after Lokesh M’s removal over techie's death in pit

Following the accident and demonstrations by locals, Lokesh M, also an IAS officer, was removed as CEO on January 19 and placed on the waiting list.

• Krishna Karunesh named Noida Authority CEO after fatal Sector 150 incident
• Leadership change after protests over software engineer's death in construction pit
• Special investigation team formed; SIT report due in five days

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Senior IAS officer Krishna Karunesh has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Noida Authority, days after the Uttar Pradesh government removed Lokesh M from the post in the wake of a fatal incident in Sector 150.

A senior official of the authority confirmed the appointment to PTI, saying Karunesh has taken charge following the administrative reshuffle triggered by public anger and official action after the death of a young software engineer earlier this month.

Karunesh, a 2011-batch Indian Administrative Service officer originally from Bihar, was serving as District Magistrate of Gorakhpur before being assigned to Noida. Over the years, he has held several key positions, including Chief Development Officer of Ghaziabad and Vice Chairman of the Ghaziabad Development Authority. He has also served as District Magistrate of Hapur and Balrampur, officials said.

The leadership change at the Noida Authority comes against the backdrop of protests and scrutiny after 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta died on the night of January 16 in Sector 150. His SUV fell into a deep, water-filled pit at a construction site, an incident that residents alleged reflected negligence by developers and the authority.

Following the accident and demonstrations by locals, Lokesh M, also an IAS officer, was removed as CEO on January 19 and placed on the waiting list. The state government also ordered further action, including disciplinary steps against officials connected to traffic-related works in the area. A junior engineer and in-charge of the Noida traffic cell, Naveen Kumar, was suspended, and notices were issued to others linked to the site.

The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a special investigation team to probe the death. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed that the SIT submit its report within five days, according to NDTV.

Police said the pit, more than 20 feet deep and filled with water, was poorly marked and difficult to see, especially during winter fog. There were no barricades, fencing, reflectors or warning lights in place, making the stretch hazardous at night.

The victim’s family has questioned the official version of events, alleging that timely rescue efforts could have saved his life. Recounting the night, Yuvraj’s father Raj Kumar Mehta told ANI, “My son was struggling to save himself.

He kept repeating ‘papa bachao, papa bachao’ every time we spoke on the phone.” He added, “He was also shouting ‘help, help’ so that the general public might hear his cry for help, but most of the crowd was just watching. Some people were making videos.”

Raj Kumar Mehta said his son used his mobile phone torch to signal his location in the darkness of the fog-filled pit. “My son struggled for 2 hours to save his life. Had he been given little support, he might have survived,” he said, disputing claims of an immediate and coordinated rescue operation.

As Karunesh assumes charge, the authority faces close public and administrative scrutiny over safety lapses, accountability and the outcome of the ongoing probe.