Noida/Greater Noida: Even five days after the tragic death of a young man in Sector-150, Noida, the silence of the system continues to haunt the case. The incident has exposed glaring lapses at multiple administrative, police, and corporate levels, raising uncomfortable questions about accountability and public safety.
The young man drowned in the basement of an under-construction mall after rainwater accumulated at the site. Shockingly, there were no warning signs, barricades, reflector lights, or safety personnel deployed at the location. Locals allege that despite repeated complaints about waterlogging and poor visibility, no preventive action was taken.
Who is responsible?
Several officials and authorities are now under the scanner:
- Lokesh M (CEO, Noida Authority):
Questions are being raised about why repeated warnings about unsafe construction zones were ignored and why safety audits were not enforced, despite large-scale commercial projects being underway. - Lakshmi Singh (Police Commissioner):
Why was the area not declared hazardous and why were traffic diversions or police barricades missing despite known risks during fog and rain? - Medha Roopam (District Magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar):
As the district’s top administrative officer, why were safety compliance norms not monitored effectively, and why did coordination between departments fail? - Pradeep Verma (CFO, Project Developer):
Allegations suggest cost-cutting at the expense of safety, with no proper lighting, signage or emergency response arrangements at the site. - Sarvesh Singh (SHO):
Locals question why the police response was delayed and why the area was not secured earlier despite visible danger. - Vivek Srivastava (SDRF):
Rescue operations began late, and questions remain over whether faster deployment could have saved a life. - Amit Kumar (Builder, Project Head):
The builder is accused of gross negligence, failing to ensure basic safety standards at an active construction site.
Police investigation ongoing
Police recovered the victim’s mobile phone and are examining CCTV footage from January 27. A forensic team has inspected the site, and senior officials claim the investigation is ongoing. However, no major arrests or concrete action have been taken so far.
Family’s grief, Society’s anger
The victim’s family is inconsolable, demanding strict punishment for those responsible. Residents across Noida and Greater Noida have expressed anger, stating that unchecked construction and administrative apathy are turning the city into a death trap.
Life is so cheap ?
Was the young man’s life so cheap that even after five days, no one has been held accountable?
Until answers emerge, the silence of the system continues to speak louder than words.