Govt orders Rs 10 lakh relief for victim’s family, probe and suspends 3 engineers

Taking stern action after a motorcyclist allegedly fell into a construction pit, resulting in his death, the Delhi Government has ordered a probe and suspended three Delhi Jal Board (DJB) engineers. The city Government has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the deceased’s family.

Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma, who visited the site to conduct an inspection as people raised slogans denouncing the Government over the incident, ordered the suspension of the DJB officers. He further stated that strict action would be taken against the company executing the project.

“We are suspending three officers — an executive engineer, an assistant engineer, and a junior engineer. It was their duty to monitor the progress of the ongoing work here,” Verma told reporters. Work at the site has been ongoing for the last three months but the pit was dug on Thursday, he said. He added that DJB will give compensation to the family of the victim.

Preliminary inspection of the site indicated that an excavation pit of approximately 6 metres in length, 4 metres in width and around 4.25 metres in depth had been created as part of the ongoing sewer project. While certain portions of the road were barricaded, initial observations suggest that safety arrangements around the excavation area were not fully in line with prescribed norms, and movement of two-wheelers was continuing in the vicinity, which raised serious safety concerns.

It was further noted that detailed safety advisories had already been issued by the Delhi Jal Board on 24th January after a similar incident in Noida, directing all officials and executing agencies to ensure strict barricading, signage and public protection at all work sites. Similar instructions had also been circulated by the PWD and the Irrigation & Flood Control Department. The present incident has highlighted gaps in on-ground implementation and monitoring of these safety protocols.

“The contractor agency executing the work has been placed under investigation. Based on the findings, strict action, including blacklisting, will be initiated if violations are established,” Verma said. Meanwhile, the Delhi police have also registered an FIR in connection with the incident and have begun their independent investigation to examine possible negligence and responsibility under applicable legal provisions.

Further, the DJB has constituted a High-Level Inquiry Committee to fix responsibility, examine procedural shortcomings, and recommend corrective measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

“The tragedy has caused deep pain to the affected family, and the Government stands firmly with them in this difficult time. Public safety is paramount. Any failure in adhering to established safety standards will be dealt with strictly, both administratively and contractually,” Verma said.

The Minister has also directed a comprehensive safety audit of all ongoing sewer, road and flood control projects across Delhi to ensure full compliance with barricading norms, warning signage and public safety measures.

Meanwhile, Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, who is also an MLA from Janakpuri constituency where the incident took place, ordered a probe in the matter. The incident took place on Friday morning when a motorcyclist died after falling into a pit dug for construction work by the Delhi Jal Board in west Delhi’s Janakpuri area, police said.

The minister ordered an inspection into the matter and directed officials from the PWD, DJB, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and (Western Range), respectively and the MCD to take remedial measures during a joint inspection scheduled for Saturday at 10 am at the incident site.  Sood, in a post on X, said, “I visited the accident site and also met the family members of the deceased. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the entire Delhi Government stand with the family.”

The order for a probe of the incident has been issued, and the guilty will be punished strictly, he added.

The victim’s family has alleged negligence on the part of the DJB and also suspects foul play in his death. Upon receiving information about the incident at around 7 am, police rushed to the spot and found a body along with a motorcycle inside the pit, they said. The deceased, Kamal Dhayani, a resident of Kailashpuri, worked at the call centre of a private bank, police said.