Motorcyclist dies after falling into 15-feet-deep pit in Delhi, three engineers suspended

A 25-year-old motorcyclist , Kamal Bhayani, died on Friday morning after falling into a 15-feet-deep pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for construction work in West Delhi’s Janakpuri area. The incident has prompted the DJB to constitute a high-level inquiry committee and suspend three engineers responsible for supervising the site.

Bhayani, a resident of Kailashpuri and a call centre employee at a private bank, was found inside the pit along with his motorcycle. Police received a call about the accident around 7 am , and a team reached the site promptly. Preliminary investigations indicate that the pit, dug at a DJB construction site , was barricaded, though the reasons for the accident remain under investigation. Authorities have ruled out foul play , calling it an unfortunate incident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar said the road near the site had been closed for several days and that Bhayani may have been unaware of the pit while taking his usual commuting route. Bhayani’s family alleged negligence by authorities, stating they had been searching for him throughout the night and had approached multiple police stations without assistance.

In response to the incident, Water Minister Parvesh Verma announced that the DJB inquiry committee has been tasked with inspecting the accident site, reviewing safety arrangements, barricading, signage, and traffic management, and ensuring compliance with all safety norms. The committee will also assign responsibility and recommend corrective and disciplinary action, with a report expected by the evening. As part of immediate accountability measures, the DJB has suspended three engineers , an Executive Engineer, an Assistant Engineer, and a Junior Engineer, who were responsible for overseeing the construction site.

Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood visited the site and met Bhayani’s family, assuring them that the Delhi government stands with them and that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty.

The tragedy has once again raised concerns about safety at construction sites , coming weeks after a similar accident in Noida, where a 27-year-old software engineer drowned after his car fell into a waterlogged pit. The DJB’s inquiry and the suspension of the engineers aim to ensure transparent investigation, accountability, and preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.