Amity University Swimmer's Tragic Drowning in Noida Pit Raises Alarming Questions
The family of Harshit Bhatt, a 23-year-old Amity University student, is grappling with disbelief and grief after he drowned in a water-filled excavation pit in Noida's Sector 94 on Wednesday. The incident has sparked serious questions about how a trained swimmer, who aspired to become a professional coach, could meet such a fate in a construction pit just meters from his campus.
Police Confirm Accidental Drowning Amid Family's Skepticism
Police authorities have stated that the autopsy report confirms "accidental drowning" as the cause of death. They have detained three friends who were accompanying Harshit at the time for detailed questioning. However, Harshit's mother, Deepmala, has vehemently rejected this theory, describing her son as a disciplined and physically trained swimmer focused on a coaching career.
"When I saw my son in the mortuary, there were V-shaped marks on his back and dark injury marks on his hands and legs. It looked like he was attacked with a pointed object. I believe my son was murdered. I want justice," she asserted. She added that she recognized two of the three friends present but did not know the third individual.
Chronology of the Fatal Incident
Harshit, a resident of Indirapuram, had completed his sixth-semester BSc physical education examination, his final papers, on Wednesday morning. After the exam ended around 1 pm, he purchased food and gathered with three friends. The group then proceeded towards a now-stalled excavation site for a proposed Noida Habitat and Convention Centre behind the Supernova building, apparently for a post-exam picnic.
At 3.45 pm, Harshit entered the water, moved deeper into the pit, and began to drown. One friend attempted a rescue but turned back. Police records indicate that a call was made to Dial 112 at 4.06 pm, with a response unit arriving at 4.20 pm. Divers retrieved Harshit, and CPR was administered before fire brigade and State Disaster Response Force teams reached the location. Tragically, Harshit was declared dead at the district hospital later.
Autopsy Findings and Ongoing Investigations
A medical panel conducted the autopsy under video surveillance and found mud-like particles in Harshit's stomach and mouth, consistent with inhalation of contaminated water. Minor injury marks of approximately 0.5 mm were observed on his back, arms, and legs, which police attributed to friction during rescue efforts.
Viscera samples have been preserved to determine whether Harshit had consumed alcohol. Medical reports confirmed that all three friends present at the scene had consumed alcohol. Additional DCP Manisha Singh stated that all three friends were taken into custody for questioning, with further action pending once the family files a formal written complaint.
Background of the Hazardous Excavation Site
The site where Harshit drowned was an excavation pit dug for the basement of a proposed Habitat and Convention Centre, developed by the UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Limited. Construction had stalled in 2022 after the Noida Authority cancelled the tender, as UPRNNL had sublet the site to a third party that was excavating soil illegally.
The pit, surrounded by dense overgrowth, had been filled with water for an extended period. Despite its proximity to Amity University campus and the Noida Expressway, the area was not cordoned or barricaded, raising significant safety concerns.
Recurring Safety Issues in Noida
This tragic incident follows the drowning death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta in January, whose car plunged into a construction pit in Sector 150 amid dense fog. These events have prompted residents across Noida and the National Capital Region to demand better safeguards for open and abandoned excavation sites throughout the city.
Harshit's father, Lalit Chandra, who serves with the technical wing of the Indian Army and is posted in Ladakh, reached Noida on Thursday afternoon. The family transported the body to Ghaziabad, where last rites were performed, leaving a community in mourning and seeking answers.
