Noida Techie Death: CEO Sacked, CM Yogi Adityanath Orders SIT Probe; Report Due In Five Days
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday removed Lokesh M as CEO of the Noida Authority and ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the death of software engineer Yuvraj Mehta , who drowned after his car plunged into a waterlogged trench in Noida’s Sector 150.
The move came after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took “serious cognisance” of the incident, which occurred late Friday night at a commercial project site. The government said the SIT will submit its findings to the Chief Minister within five days.
According to reports, Mehta was driving along a poorly lit stretch of road that has a sharp right-angle turn. The turn becomes particularly dangerous during foggy conditions and reportedly had no warning signs, lights, barricades or reflectors.
As a result, Mehta’s car fell into a deep, water-filled trench dug at the project site, leading to the fatal accident.
Allegations Of Delayed Rescue
Serious questions have been raised over the rescue operation. Mehta’s father alleged that police and other agencies delayed efforts to save his son, even though he was alive and crying for help when officers reached the spot.
Mehta, who could not swim, reportedly tried to stay afloat by clinging to the car before eventually drowning. A senior police officer later said swimming is not a mandatory requirement for police personnel, a statement that has drawn sharp criticism.
The SIT will be headed by Additional Director General (ADG) Meerut Zone Bhanu Bhaskar. Divisional Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami and the Public Works Department’s chief engineer will be the other members.
The team has been instructed to examine the circumstances leading to the accident, lapses in safety measures, and the rescue response, and to submit a report within five days.
CEO Put On Compulsory Waiting
Following the incident, Lokesh M, a 2005-batch IAS officer, was placed on compulsory waiting. He had taken charge as Noida Authority CEO in July 2023 and was also heading the Noida Metro Rail Corporation.
As CEO, Lokesh was responsible for daily administration, civic planning, infrastructure development and enforcement across Noida.
FIR Against Developers, Officials Booked
An FIR has been registered against two real estate developers Wishtown Planners and Lotus Greens for alleged negligence, including the absence of barricades, reflectors and other mandatory safety measures at the site.
Earlier, the Noida Authority suspended junior engineer Naveen Kumar, who was in charge of traffic-related work in the area, and issued notices to other officials associated with the project.
Local Protests And Safety Concerns
The tragedy sparked protests by local residents near the accident site. Protesters alleged long-standing negligence by the Noida Authority and claimed multiple accidents had occurred at the same location in the past.
Residents said repeated requests for barricades and reflectors were ignored. After the protest, the Noida Authority dumped hundreds of tonnes of debris near the site.
The government has indicated that strict action will follow based on the SIT’s findings, as the incident continues to fuel public outrage and raise serious questions about civic safety and accountability in Noida.
The move came after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took “serious cognisance” of the incident, which occurred late Friday night at a commercial project site. The government said the SIT will submit its findings to the Chief Minister within five days.
How The Accident Happened
According to reports, Mehta was driving along a poorly lit stretch of road that has a sharp right-angle turn. The turn becomes particularly dangerous during foggy conditions and reportedly had no warning signs, lights, barricades or reflectors.
As a result, Mehta’s car fell into a deep, water-filled trench dug at the project site, leading to the fatal accident.
Allegations Of Delayed Rescue
Serious questions have been raised over the rescue operation. Mehta’s father alleged that police and other agencies delayed efforts to save his son, even though he was alive and crying for help when officers reached the spot. Mehta, who could not swim, reportedly tried to stay afloat by clinging to the car before eventually drowning. A senior police officer later said swimming is not a mandatory requirement for police personnel, a statement that has drawn sharp criticism.
SIT Composition And Timeline
The SIT will be headed by Additional Director General (ADG) Meerut Zone Bhanu Bhaskar. Divisional Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami and the Public Works Department’s chief engineer will be the other members.
The team has been instructed to examine the circumstances leading to the accident, lapses in safety measures, and the rescue response, and to submit a report within five days.
CEO Put On Compulsory Waiting
Following the incident, Lokesh M, a 2005-batch IAS officer, was placed on compulsory waiting. He had taken charge as Noida Authority CEO in July 2023 and was also heading the Noida Metro Rail Corporation. As CEO, Lokesh was responsible for daily administration, civic planning, infrastructure development and enforcement across Noida.
FIR Against Developers, Officials Booked
An FIR has been registered against two real estate developers Wishtown Planners and Lotus Greens for alleged negligence, including the absence of barricades, reflectors and other mandatory safety measures at the site. Earlier, the Noida Authority suspended junior engineer Naveen Kumar, who was in charge of traffic-related work in the area, and issued notices to other officials associated with the project.
Local Protests And Safety Concerns
The tragedy sparked protests by local residents near the accident site. Protesters alleged long-standing negligence by the Noida Authority and claimed multiple accidents had occurred at the same location in the past.Residents said repeated requests for barricades and reflectors were ignored. After the protest, the Noida Authority dumped hundreds of tonnes of debris near the site.
The government has indicated that strict action will follow based on the SIT’s findings, as the incident continues to fuel public outrage and raise serious questions about civic safety and accountability in Noida.
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