A routine commute ended in catastrophe for a Noida software engineer whose car somersaulted into a pothole during heavy fog Wednesday. The incident exposes glaring gaps in the city’s preparedness for winter weather challenges.
At approximately 7:15 AM, Rahul Sharma’s Hyundai Creta encountered a submerged crater on the service lane near Sector 62 industrial area. The 32-year-old IT professional from Wave City residency couldn’t react in time.
The car’s front wheels sank completely, causing it to topple sideways into knee-deep sludge water. Sharma remained conscious initially, calling for help through broken windows before succumbing to injuries.
Local shopkeepers rushed with ropes and crowbars for rescue. Noida 112 emergency services arrived within 12 minutes but faced extraction difficulties due to the unstable crater edges. Sharma was rushed to Kailash Hospital but declared dead.
Investigation reveals the pothole resulted from burst sewer lines during last week’s rains. Despite citizen complaints via Noida Authority apps, no action was taken citing ‘pending approvals.’
Sharma’s employer, InfoSys Limited, issued a statement expressing deep sorrow and committing financial support to his family. Professional networks overflow with tributes highlighting his expertise in cloud computing and team leadership.
Winter safety measures remain inadequate despite annual warnings. Only 23% of Noida’s 1,800 km roads have fog lighting. PWD engineers blame overloaded drainage while activists point to corruption in repair contracts.
As funerals proceed and investigations continue, citizens demand ‘Zero Tolerance Pothole Policy.’ Social media campaigns with #FixNoidaRoads trend nationally, drawing political attention ahead of upcoming elections.
Meteorological data shows fog density increased 40% this winter due to stubble burning. Transportation ministry contemplates mandatory winter tires for commercial vehicles. For Rahul Sharma’s family and countless commuters, these measures arrive tragically late.