A sub-contractor has been arrested in connection with the death of a 25-year-old bank telecaller who fell into an unsecured Delhi Jal Board (DJB) excavation pit in West Delhi&rsquo;s Janakpuri. Investigators revealed that the victim remained inside the pit for nearly eight hours while several individuals who knew about the accident failed to alert authorities.
The accused, 47-year-old Rajesh Kumar Prajapati, is among at least five people believed to have been aware that Kamal Dhyani&rsquo;s motorcycle had plunged into the 4.5-metre-deep pit. He has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Officials are working to determine whether Dhyani died immediately after the fall around 12.15 am on Friday or succumbed later as pedestrians passed by the busy stretch near Andhra School. The delay in informing emergency services may have reduced any chance of survival. The incident only came to light at about 8.03 am when a passerby contacted the emergency hotline.
A preliminary inquiry highlighted multiple lapses, including inadequate safety measures and negligence by contractors and supervising engineers. The site was reportedly left unattended, with those responsible for maintaining safety also accused of withholding information about the accident.
Dhyani had finished his shift at a Rohini call centre and was riding home to Palam Colony when the crash occurred. CCTV footage showed a passing motorist stopping after noticing the fall and alerting a nearby security guard, who then informed a labourer stationed close to the site. The labourer reportedly saw the motorcycle with its headlight still on and the victim lying beside it.
The labourer contacted Prajapati, who reached the location shortly afterwards. Despite witnessing the situation, neither informed the police. The sub-contractor later contacted the main contractor, and several people discussed the incident over a call while the victim remained in the pit. Both the labourer and Prajapati eventually left the site without reporting the matter.
Police teams have been dispatched to locate the labourer and the contractor, who are currently believed to be outside Delhi.
The first information report states that Dhyani was taken to the hospital unconscious and was declared dead on arrival. It also notes that the pit had been dug for sewer line work and left open without adequate warnings,&nbsp; such as barricades, signage, or security personnel.
Authorities concluded that basic precautions were not enforced despite the obvious risk posed by an open excavation on a public road. The inquiry further found that barricading was insufficient and poorly maintained, allowing easy access to a restricted zone even though the road had been partially closed.
Following the incident, the Delhi government has ordered safety reports for all construction and excavation sites within three days and issued an eight-point directive aimed at preventing similar tragedies. A wider technical and administrative probe has also been announced, along with a safety audit of infrastructure projects in the Janakpuri area to fix accountability and prevent recurrence.

Man lay in open DJB pit for hours as witnesses stayed silent; safety lapses exposed

Janakpuri Pit Death: Sub-Contractor Arrested

Man lay in open DJB pit for hours as witnesses stayed silent; safety lapses exposed

February 8, 2026 | 09:25 IST