Officials from the Noida Authority dedicated their Thursday to meticulously drafting comprehensive replies to an extensive questionnaire issued by a three-member special investigation team. This SIT is currently probing the tragic death of uvraj Mehta, a 27-year-old software engineer who drowned after his car plunged into a severely waterlogged pit in Sector 150 during the early hours of January 17.
SIT's Intensive Investigation Timeline and Key Queries
Established just this past Monday with a strict five-day deadline to submit its final report, the special investigation team has posed several critical questions to the Authority. According to informed sources, the SIT specifically demanded to know what immediate actions were taken by the Authority after a truck had previously fallen into the exact same trench merely days before the fatal incident. Investigators are particularly focused on understanding why this hazardous location remained completely unprotected, lacking essential barricades, reflective markers, or any form of warning signage when Mehta's vehicle entered the waterlogged area.
Scrutiny of Emergency Response and Coordination Failures
During a crucial meeting held on Thursday, the SIT requested a detailed, step-by-step account of the Authority's entire response protocol on the night of the tragedy. This includes pinpointing the exact moment when the Authority first received information about the accident, what immediate actions were subsequently initiated, and how field staff, control room operators, and emergency response teams coordinated their efforts. A significant part of the investigation is examining the perplexing delay in rescue operations, which could not be initiated for nearly two hours after the car submerged, despite Mehta reportedly shouting for help and waving his phone's torchlight in a desperate attempt to attract attention.
Broader Focus on Systemic Road Safety and Waterlogging Issues
The SIT's questionnaire extends beyond the immediate incident to address broader systemic issues concerning road safety and chronic waterlogging in the Noida region. Investigators are scrutinizing the specific role and responsibilities of the Noida traffic cell in maintaining road safety infrastructure. A key line of inquiry involves determining whether this particular site had been previously identified as a known waterlogging hotspot and, if such identification had occurred, why appropriate preventive measures were never implemented to mitigate the risk.
Deep Dive into the Sports City Project and Development Compliance
A substantial portion of the probe is centered around the ambitious Sports City project, which is slated for construction on the very plot that is currently inundated with water. Sources revealed that the SIT has formally requested detailed possession records for all 21 subdivided plots within this area, along with comprehensive information regarding their respective developers. The investigation is also seeking clarifications on multiple regulatory aspects, including map approval processes, the issuance of occupancy certificates and completion certificates, and the current status of essential basic utilities such as road networks, road safety infrastructure, water supply systems, and sewerage connections.
Authority officials confirmed that the SIT is thoroughly examining whether the development of facilities adhered to the originally approved plans and whether regulatory compliance was effectively monitored at various construction stages. Additional queries from the team include whether any formal notices were issued to builders for non-compliance with established development norms or safety standards.
Corrective Measures Initiated by Noida Authority Post-Tragedy
In the wake of the drowning incident, the Noida Authority has begun implementing several corrective steps. Officials stated that the installation of cement block barricades on both sides of the road in Sector 150 will proceed through a formal tender process, with work anticipated to commence shortly. Furthermore, explicit directions have been issued to systematically drain accumulated water from potholes and waterlogged plots not only in Sector 150 but across various other sectors and parts of Noida to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
