Akhilesh Yadav : Blames UP Administration Over Noida Engineer Tragic Death Case
Akhilesh Yadav: Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has strongly criticized the Uttar Pradesh government over the death of a 27-year-old software engineer in Noida, alleging that delayed administrative action and systemic failure led to the tragic incident. The political attack came after the young professional, Yuvraj Mehta, lost his life when his car fell into an open drain, raising serious questions about emergency response systems and governance in the region.
Allegations of Administrative Negligence
Addressing the media, Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the tragedy could have been avoided if emergency services had responded in time. He stated that the responsibility lay with the authorities who reached the scene first, including the police and fire brigade. According to him, the emergency response mechanism failed to act within the critical time window, which ultimately cost a young man his life.
He further alleged that the state government had weakened the Dial 100 emergency response system due to corruption and mismanagement. As per his remarks, Dial 100 was originally designed to ensure police presence at any emergency location within five minutes, but that efficiency has been destroyed over time. Yadav directly held the Chief Minister and the state administration accountable, stating that the erosion of emergency infrastructure played a decisive role in the incident.
Political Claims on Bureaucratic Action
Akhilesh Yadav also questioned the suspension of senior officials following the incident. He suggested that the removal of the Noida Authority’s Chief Executive Officer was politically motivated rather than corrective. According to him, instead of targeting administrative heads, accountability should have been fixed on the police machinery responsible for ground-level action.
He further argued that removing senior police officers or district-level administrators would create complications, especially with electoral processes and voter list management. Through these remarks, Yadav attempted to highlight what he described as selective administrative action by the state government.
Changes in Noida Authority Leadership
Following the incident, IAS officer Krishna Karunesh, who was earlier serving as District Magistrate of Gorakhpur, was appointed as the in-charge Chief Executive Officer of the Noida Authority. This appointment came after the suspension of M Lokesh, the former CEO of Noida Authority and Managing Director of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation.
The Uttar Pradesh government suspended Lokesh on January 19, days after the fatal accident, signaling strict administrative action amid growing public and political pressure.
Details of the Fatal Accident
The incident occurred during the night of January 16 and 17 under the jurisdiction of Knowledge Park Police Station. Yuvraj Mehta’s car reportedly plunged into an uncovered drain at the Sector 150 intersection in Noida. Due to the absence of proper barricading and delayed rescue operations, the vehicle remained submerged for a prolonged period.
According to the post-mortem report, the cause of death was asphyxia due to antemortem drowning followed by cardiac arrest. Medical findings indicated that the victim remained alive in the water for a significant duration, intensifying allegations of delayed rescue.
Special Investigation Team Ordered
In response to the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter. The team is being led by the Additional Director General of the Meerut Zone and includes the Divisional Commissioner of Meerut and the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department.
As per the Chief Minister’s Office, the SIT has been instructed to submit its detailed report within five days. The investigation aims to examine administrative lapses, road safety standards, and the role of emergency services during the incident.
Family’s Demand for Accountability
The victim’s family has accused the administration of gross negligence, stating that timely intervention could have saved Yuvraj Mehta’s life. They alleged that he struggled in the water for nearly two hours before succumbing, a claim that has further fueled public outrage.
The case has now become a major political and administrative flashpoint in Uttar Pradesh, bringing renewed focus on urban infrastructure safety, emergency response efficiency, and governance accountability in rapidly developing regions like Noida.