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Nose clogged with mud, water in chest: Noida techie’s autopsy tells story of drowning

Yuvraj, who had lost his mother two years ago, lived with his father at Tata Eureka Park housing society in Sector 150. He was the sole earning member of the family.

3 min readNoidaUpdated: Jan 20, 2026 03:44 PM IST

The water-filled plot is very large, and resembles a lake framed by a dense growth of bushes and tall grasses. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

Yuvraj Mehta’s nose was blocked with mud and water, and there was water in his lungs and chest: these details are part of the autopsy report of the Noida-based software professional who drowned in a deep pit in the early hours of Saturday, The Indian Express has learnt.

The report is learnt to have cited the cause of death as asphyxia due to ante mortem drowning, followed by cardiac arrest.

Around midnight on Friday, Yuvraj (27) was driving to his home in Noida’s Sector 150 from Gurgaon through dense fog. Less than a kilometre from home, his Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara went off the dark road, over a low, partially broken boundary wall, and plunged into the pit filled with water.

Also read | Months before Noida man drowned in ditch, residents wrote to MP Mahesh Sharma about broken, dark roads

According to the victim’s family, Yuvraj managed to climb out of the partially submerged car and stood atop its roof, screaming for help for nearly two hours before he drowned.

The police, who were present at the spot, did not enter the water to rescue him. Knowledge Park Station House Officer (SHO) Sarvesh Singh told The Indian Express that they were hesitant because they suspected the ditch was an excavation done at a construction site, and could contain submerged iron rods.

Noida techie drowning site

“Visibility was poor. We heard from local people that it was a construction site; our team didn’t want to enter the water… But we still did everything that was within our capacity,” Singh said.

Yuvraj, who had lost his mother two years ago, lived with his father at Tata Eureka Park housing society in Sector 150. He was the sole earning member of the family.

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The water-filled plot is very large, and resembles a lake framed by a dense growth of bushes and tall grasses. A section of the concrete boundary wall of the plot is damaged; large chunks of concrete are missing, exposing rusted reinforcement bars inside.

Noida techie drowning site

Also read | Cops and his father watching, Noida techie drowns two hours after car falls in drain

The Greater Noida Police on Sunday registered an FIR against real estate companies MZ Wiztown Planners Private Limited and Lotus Greens Construction Private Limited. Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (BNS) including culpable homicide, causing death by negligence, and endangering life and personal safety have been invoked against them.

A spokesperson for Lotus Greens issued a statement saying it had “no role to play because the said plot was transferred in 2019-20 to… [another company] with the approval of the Noida Authority”.

Abhay Kumar, Director, Wiztown, said the land was sold to them by Lotus Greens and was already excavated in 2020. “However, the Noida Authority withheld commencement permission, effectively paralysing the project,” he alleged.

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On Sunday, the Noida Authority asked for a report on the allocation and construction work of Lotus Builders and instructed all departments to re-inspect the safety of under-construction projects in their areas.

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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