Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M. has been removed from his position and put on a waiting list following the demise of a 27-year-old software engineer who fell into a water-filled ditch in Sector 150. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has initiated a high-level investigation into the incident. A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by the state government to probe the circumstances surrounding the engineer’s death.
The SIT, overseen by the Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Meerut Zone, includes the Divisional Commissioner, Meerut, and the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD). The team has been instructed to conclude the investigation and present its findings to the Chief Minister within five days. The post-mortem report has indicated that the engineer passed away due to asphyxiation, with heart failure or cardiac arrest playing a contributing role.
Preliminary reports suggest that the incident occurred late on a cold Saturday night when the engineer’s car plunged into the water-filled ditch. Trapped inside the vehicle for an extended period, the engineer managed to climb onto the car’s roof and awaited help for nearly two hours. Unfortunately, his condition worsened due to exposure to freezing temperatures, icy water, mental stress, and panic.
The delay in rescue efforts, combined with hypothermia and anxiety, is believed to have triggered panic, leading to cardiac arrest. The post-mortem report has identified suffocation and heart failure as the causes of death. The incident has sparked public outrage, with local residents questioning the authorities’ response and alleging lapses in emergency procedures.
Residents have criticized the Noida Authority for negligence, stating that safety concerns in the area were previously raised. Complaints were made regarding the need for safety measures such as speed breakers, reflectors, covering of open drains, drainage of waterlogged areas, improved street lighting, and sanitation. Despite repeated warnings and complaints, residents claim that the authority failed to take appropriate action.
