Video: Final Moments Of Noida Techie Show Phone Flash For Help As Father Watches Helplessly

A chilling video that surfaced during the investigation has offered a glimpse into the final moments of a Noida-based software engineer who died after his car plunged into a water-filled pit in Greater Noida.

The footage has intensified scrutiny of the rescue operation and the alleged negligence surrounding the accident that claimed 27-year-old Yuvraj Mehta's life.

The incident occurred late on January 16, when Mehta was returning home from work in Gurugram. Thick fog, poor visibility and an unguarded excavation near a construction site are believed to have contributed to the tragedy.

Video Shows Faint Phone Light Amid Fog

The newly emerged video shows rescue personnel standing near the edge of the waterlogged pit, struggling to locate Mehta's car. In the darkness and dense fog, a faint flash from his mobile phone torch can be seen reflecting on the water's surface. Voices of rescuers are audible, urging him to stay calm as efforts to reach him continue.

Despite the presence of police, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force, the rescue operation failed. Mehta remained trapped inside his vehicle and was reportedly in contact with authorities for nearly two hours before communication stopped.

How the Accident Unfolded in Sector 150

Mehta's car fell into a deep excavation near a construction site in Sector 150 of Greater Noida. The pit, located close to a public road, had filled with water over time, turning into what officials later described as a pond.

His father, Raj Kumar Mehta, reached the spot during the rescue attempt. The vehicle was eventually recovered on Tuesday evening, three days after the accident. On Wednesday, forensic teams visited the site to collect samples and measure the road and adjoining drain as part of the investigation.

Waterlogged Pit Under Investigation

Authorities found that the pit had been dug using heavy machinery and had remained waterlogged for several years. Stagnant water had turned muddy and polluted, with rainwater carrying garbage into it. Officials noted that the condition of the pit had worsened air quality and posed serious health and safety risks.

The plot, identified as SC-02/A3 in Sector 150, was originally purchased from the Noida Authority in 2014 by Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd. It was later transferred in 2020 to MZ Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd, although Lotus Greens continues to hold a stake in the property.

FIRs, Arrests and SIT Probe

A second FIR has been registered against five individuals linked to Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd and MZ Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd for alleged violations of environmental and pollution laws. The accused are Abhay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Manish Kumar, Anchal Bohra and Nirmal Kumar. The complaint was filed by sub-inspector Regal Kumar following a patrol on January 20 that flagged the hazardous pit near the road.

Earlier, on January 18, police had lodged an initial FIR based on a complaint from Mehta's father, accusing the companies of negligence, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and endangering life. On Tuesday, police detained Abhay Kumar, director of MZ Wiztown Planners, who owns the plot where water has reportedly been accumulating since 2021.

The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the circumstances leading to the accident and fix responsibility for the lapses that led to Mehta's death.