A 27-year-old software engineer lost his life in Greater Noida after his car plunged into a deep, water-filled pit amid dense fog, with rescue efforts failing due to poor visibility and inadequate equipment. The victim, identified as Yuvraj Mehta, struggled for nearly 90 minutes before his car sank, leading to his drowning.
Mehta, who worked in Gurugram, was driving back to his residence at Tata Eureka Park in Noida Sector 150 over the weekend when the accident occurred. While navigating a turn in near-zero visibility, his Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara reportedly jumped a drain and fell into a nearly 50-foot-deep pit filled with rainwater. Police said there were no barricades or reflective warning signs around the excavation site.
Despite the impact, Mehta managed to climb onto the roof of his car and called his father, informing him that the vehicle had fallen into a drain. Emergency services, including the police, fire department, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were alerted but faced delays in reaching the site due to thick winter fog.
According to officials, multiple rescue attempts were made, but ropes thrown into the pit failed to reach Mehta. Cranes and ladders deployed by firefighters were also unable to bridge the depth of the waterlogged ditch. After standing on top of the vehicle for about an hour and a half, the car eventually submerged completely. His body was later recovered using a boat.
Following public outrage, a case of culpable homicide has been registered against two real estate companies linked to the plot, MZ Wiztown Planners Ltd and Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd. Both firms have denied responsibility, citing ownership transfers and lack of work permissions. The Noida Authority has issued show-cause notices to officials responsible for traffic arrangements in the area and terminated a junior engineer.
Police said dense fog likely caused Mehta to misjudge the turn, with overspeeding also suspected as a contributing factor. Officials added that while streetlights were present, visibility was severely compromised due to fog.

Fog, poor visibility and failed rescue efforts lead to death in Greater Noida

Techie Drowns After Car Falls Into Water Pit

Fog, poor visibility and failed rescue efforts lead to death in Greater Noida

January 19, 2026 | 04:54 IST