'It's a clear-cut failure': Priyanka Chaturvedi slams UP govt over Noida techie's death

New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Thursday criticised the Uttar Pradesh government over the death of a Noida-based techie whose car fell into a pit at a construction site, calling the incident a "clear-cut failure" of the system.

Speaking to IANS, Chaturvedi said the government’s response exposed deep flaws in governance and accountability.

"Absolutely, it is a clear-cut failure. The CEO of Noida has been suspended, but the District Magistrate is still in the same position. This reflects a systemic failure that ultimately led to the loss of a life," she said.

The MP pointed out that reports had earlier highlighted complaints about the site and alleged negligence, and accused the government of attempting to deflect public anger by announcing a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

"Many people had reportedly complained about the dangerous conditions. By the time the NDRF and other agencies reached the spot, it was already too late. What will an SIT figure out now? Bureaucrats run governance, and they are running away from their responsibilities," she alleged.

"The government claims it is taking Uttar Pradesh’s development to another level, but by forming an SIT, they are trying to reduce public outrage. They are still protecting the District Magistrate. There is an urgent need to take responsibility and ensure accountability for such failures," she said.

Calling the death deeply unfortunate, the Shiv Sena-UBT MP said the victim’s father had appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to meet him and provide assurance.

"It is tragic that common citizens are compelled to plead for the Chief Minister to step in and offer reassurance. We express outrage today and forget tomorrow. Announcing an SIT often becomes a way to ensure people forget, while public safety continues to be compromised," she added.

Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav also launched a sharp attack on the Uttar Pradesh government over the issue, alleging that the tragic incident occurred due to administrative negligence.

Yuvraj Mehta, 27, who was employed in Gurugram, was returning home late on the night of January 16 when his car fell into a deep, water-filled pit near a construction site in Sector 150 as it went through a broken boundary wall in the fog.

He died after allegedly crying out for help for nearly two hours as his father, Rajkumar Mehta, watched helplessly beside the Nodia police and Fire Department personnel.

By the time rescue efforts were intensified by the police, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force amid dense fog and extreme cold, he had passed away.

Rajkumar Mehta said that his son climbed the roof of the partially submerged car and used his mobile phone’s flashlight to signal his location in the thick fog, while repeatedly calling for help.

However, the lack of proper rescue equipment delayed efforts to pull him out and the darkness, dense fog and near-zero visibility hampered rescue efforts.

Police and fire personnel refrained from entering the water, citing freezing conditions and the risk posed by under-construction columns inside the basement.

Speaking to reporters, Akhilesh Yadav said the focus should not be on where the victim was coming from or the circumstances preceding the incident.

Noting that reports suggested officials hesitated to enter the pit because of the extremely cold water, the former UP Chief Minister said: "If someone has lost their life due to this reason, it happened because of the government’s negligence. Incidents like this should not occur again."

Meanwhile, the SIT probing the death has registered a fresh FIR against five builders linked to Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd and MZ Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd for alleged violations of environmental and pollution control laws.

On Thursday, the SIT continued its investigation for the third consecutive day.

Officials familiar with the probe said the SIT has sought detailed information from multiple departments of the Noida Authority, including the civil, projects and traffic cells, regarding works carried out in Sector 150, particularly in the area surrounding the site where the software engineer died.

The three-member SIT is required to submit its report to the UP government by Saturday. SIT head and ADG of the Meerut Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar, had informed reporters of the timeline on the first day of inspections.