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After 27-year-old drowns screaming for help in Noida, residents say area death trap; cops blame builder

One of the two companies named by police, however, issued a statement saying it no longer had possession of the plot, and residents pointed to the absence of basic road safety in the area, including the absence of street lights, barricades and reflectors.

4 min readNoidaUpdated: Jan 19, 2026 08:44 PM IST

Yuvraj Mehta, 27, was returning home when his car plunged into the drain. (Express Photo, enhanced with AI)

After a 27-year-old man drowned in a deep ditch in Noida’s Sector 150 with police and rescuers allegedly listening to his screams but not acting, police have registered an FIR against two real estate companies whom they have accused of negligence and culpable homicide.

One of the two companies named by police, however, issued a statement saying it no longer had possession of the plot, and residents pointed to the absence of basic road safety in the area, including the absence of street lights, barricades and reflectors.

Software professional Yuvraj Mehta, who lived in Noida and worked for a company in Gurgaon, allegedly drove his car off the dark road and through a broken boundary wall into the ditch, said to be tens of feet deep, in the fog around 12.30 am on Saturday.

According to the victim’s family, Mehta managed to climb out of the partially submerged car and stood on its roof, screaming for help for nearly two hours. Although his voice could be heard, he was apparently not visible in the fog. Mehta’s father Raj Mehta has alleged that police personnel had reached the spot but refused to enter the water, allegedly citing safety concerns and the inability to swim.

In his complaint to police, Raj Mehta alleged that poor visibility and the damaged boundary wall caused the car to plunge into the ditch. He also claimed that local residents had earlier requested the Noida Authority to barricade the drain and install reflectors, but no action had been taken.

Calling the incident “very tragic”, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajeev Mishra said the local police, in coordination with the Fire Brigade, had taken “swift action” and deployed ladders, cranes, searchlights and a makeshift boat.

“The final rescue was ensured with the involvement of the SDRF (State Disaster Response Force). There was zero visibility at the time of the incident. Based on the written complaint filed by the victim’s family, a case has been registered. Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty.”

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Circle Officer Hemant Upadhyay told The Indian Express that a case had been registered against two real estate companies under Sections 105, 106 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), dealing with culpable homicide, causing death by negligence, and endangering life and personal safety. “The car is yet to be recovered,” he said.

A spokesperson for the real estate company Lotus Greens, however, issued a statement saying it bore no responsibility for the tragedy. “Being a responsible company, we fully condemn this incident. But unfortunately, Lotus Greens has no role to play because the said plot was transferred in 2019-20 to… [another company] with the approval of Noida Authority… We understand the family’s pain and we are standing with them in getting justice,” the statement said.

In a statement, Noida Authority said: “Chief Executive Officer of Noida Authority, Shri Lokesh M has taken punitive action in the case of death of an engineer by drowning in the basement of an under-construction mall in Sector 150.”

The statement added that a show-cause notice had been issued to officers and employees responsible for traffic-related work in the area, and the services of a junior engineer had been terminated.

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A resident of Samridhi Luxuriya Avenue in Sector 150, who identified herself as Kamini, said: “We have never had street lights in this area. We lack basic facilities.”

Another resident, who said her name was Jhalak, said: “Even when the SDRF team reached, they kept saying that they did not know how to swim. The person died, flashing his phone light. There have been so many complaints but no action has been taken.”

Saman Husain

Saman Husain is a Correspondent at The Indian Express. Based in New Delhi, she is an emerging voice in political journalism, reporting on civic governance, elections, migration, and the social consequences of policy, with a focus on ground-reporting across Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Honours) from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beats: Her reporting focuses on the national capital’s governance and politics. She specializes in Delhi’s civic administration and the city units of the BJP, AAP and Congress. In western Uttar Pradesh, she mostly reports on crime. Specialization: She has a keen interest in electoral processes and politics — her recent contributions include work on electoral roll revisions. Recent Notable Articles (since July 2025) Her recent work reflects a strong show-not-tell approach to storytelling, combining narrative reporting with political and historical context: 1. Politics: “On the banks of the Yamuna, a political tussle for Purvanchali support” (October 6): A report on how migration histories shaped electoral strategies in Delhi before the Bihar elections. “Explained: How Delhi’s natural drainage vanished gradually over the centuries” (September 29): An explanatory piece tracing the historical reasons that eventually led to the erosion of Delhi’s rivers and its impact on perrenial flooding. 2. Longforms “Four weddings, three funerals: How a Uttar Pradesh man swindled insurance companies” (October 7): A long-read reconstructing a chilling fraud by a man who killed three of his family members, including both his parents for insurance proceeds. His fourth wife discovered his fraud… “How Ghaziabad conman operated fake embassy of a country that doesn’t exist — for 9 years” (July 27) : A story on bizarre fraud operation and the institutional blind spots that enabled it. 3. Crime and Justice: “He was 8 when his father was killed. Fifteen years later, in UP’s Shamli, he took revenge” (October 18): A deeply reported crime story tracing cycles of violence, memory and justice in rural Uttar Pradesh. “Who killed 19 girls in Nithari? With the SC rejecting appeals, there are no answers and no closure” (July 31): A report capturing the long legal and emotional aftermath of one of India’s most chilling unsolved criminal cases. 4. Policy Impact “At Manthan, over US tariffs, Delhi-NCR’s apparel industry brainstorms solutions” (September 8) and “Trump’s 50% tariff begins to bite: Agra’s leather belt feels the impact” (August 13) : Reports documenting how global trade decisions ripple through local industries, workers and exporters. Signature Style Saman is recognized for her grassroots storytelling. Her articles often focus on the "people behind the policy". She is particularly skilled at taking mundane administrative processes and turning them into compelling human narratives. X (Twitter): @SamanHusain9 ... Read More

Neetika Jha

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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