Greater Noida tragedy: It was state apathy, not a road accident, that took a young professional’s life

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. On a foggy winter night in Greater Noida, 27-year-old Yuvraj Mehta did not die instantly. He did not vanish without warning.

He did not become another statistic in a road accident ledger. Mehta died slowly—minute by minute—while pleading for help. His car had fallen in a deep water-filled pit at an under-construction site.

Road visibility was negligible as his car reached a right-angle turn with a flimsy barricade and no reflectors, despite complaints about this hazard. Dense fog concealed what governance should have prevented. Mehta survived both the crash and splash.

He was only minutes away from home. He climbed onto the roof of his slowly submerging car, switched on his phone’s flashlight and called his father for help. His father rushed to the site.

Police arrived, as did the fire services . Emergency calls multiplied. Rescue teams were informed.

Yet, for nearly 90 minutes, nothing happened. Out in the cold, Mehta kept crying out for help. His father watched helplessly as the state stood still.

This was not a case of absence. It was a case of paralysis. Police officers cited lack of equipment.

Rescue personnel cited cold water and submerged iron-rod hazards. Teams waited for other teams. Responsibility was deferred.

The National Disaster Response Force eventually arrived. Even then, no rescue began. The fog had reportedly kept responders, nearly 80 of them at various points, from diving in.

The car kept sinking. Mehta’s voice grew weaker. Finally, it was a civilian—a delivery worker passing by—who tied a rope around his waist and descended into the water pit.

He searched until he found the car. By then, Mehta was lifeless. The body was recovered nearly five hours after the