‘Papa, I am stuck’: Noida techie’s final call before drowning after car crashes into flooded basement

A late-night drive in Greater Noida ended in tragedy after a 27-year-old software engineer drowned when his car crashed through a roadside boundary wall and plunged into a water-filled basement of an under-construction building.

The victim, identified as Yuvraj Mehta, was driving through Sector 150 around midnight when he reportedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a turn. The car broke through the edge of a drain and fell into the flooded basement, becoming fully submerged.

‘Papa, I am stuck’: A desperate final call

Shortly after the accident, Mehta managed to call his father, saying he was trapped inside the vehicle. His father rushed to the site but claimed rescue efforts were delayed.

According to family members, the absence of trained swimmers and slow response during the initial hours made it impossible to reach the trapped car in time. Friends who were present at the site alleged that rescue teams arrived hours later and were unable to immediately enter the water.

Eyewitnesses said the victim remained trapped inside the submerged car for over an hour, repeatedly calling for help before the situation turned fatal.

Rescue operation and recovery

Emergency response teams, including disaster response forces and fire services, were deployed overnight. After hours of search and rescue operations, the body was recovered in the early morning hours.

Officials confirmed that the rescue operation continued until around dawn due to low visibility, deep water and challenging site conditions.

What led to the crash

Preliminary findings suggest poor visibility and high speed as possible factors behind the accident. Officials said the drain, measuring several feet wide, was inadequately secured at certain points.

The victim’s family alleged that residents had earlier raised concerns about missing barricades, reflectors and safety warnings near the drain, but no corrective action was taken.

Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine how the vehicle breached the boundary wall and became completely submerged.

Safety concerns raised

The incident has renewed questions about road safety, poorly marked construction zones and delayed emergency response in rapidly developing urban areas.

Local authorities have stated that responsibility will be fixed after a detailed probe.