Incident Overview
On August 25, a scooter rider had a very close call in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. He fell into a big hole in a drain outside Gaur Gravity Mall. Luckily, guards pulled him out just in time, and the Scooterist Rescued moment was captured on CCTV. This incident happened in the morning but it only came to public attention several days later when the footage went viral.
Background of the Problem
For months, drain covers along Kala Patthar Road have been missing or broken. Residents believe this situation is highly dangerous and it’s something they had expected would eventually lead to an accident. The local mall management says the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) has been negligent in fixing these issues.
- Kala Patthar Road is a busy area often used by schoolchildren.
- Before the monsoon, the covers were removed for cleaning but were never replaced.
- At least 22 open drains exist from NH-9 to Aditya Mall, with some being nearly six feet wide.
Details of the Fall
The video shared on social media shows the scooter falling into the five-foot-wide hole and the rider tumbling into the wastewater. He was stuck in about chest-deep muck. Almost immediately, he waved for help as he struggled to stay above the water.
Moreover, two children who witnessed the fall quickly ran to the mall to alert security. Guards rushed to help. They borrowed a bamboo ladder from a nearby construction site and rescued the man. His scooter was later lifted out of the drain by a crane.
Eyewitness Accounts
Rajendra, a mall guard, described the scene. He said, “The children came running, shouting that a man had fallen into the drain. We found him struggling in the water. He was covered in filth and had injuries on his neck and back. I remember his first words: ‘I am coming straight from hell’ (Narq se nikal kar aa raha hoon).”
Puneet Kumar, who is in charge of mall maintenance, added that the man managed to call a crane driver himself. Most importantly, his injuries were not life-threatening.
Residents’ Concerns
This incident has raised serious concerns among the local community. Many worry about the dangers posed by uncovered drains. Nirmalendu Mishra, a local resident, expressed his fear: “Our children take this road daily to go to school. The drain is at least 12 feet deep. Imagine if it had been a child instead of an adult.”
VK Bhatnagar, another resident from Gaur Green City, located just one kilometer from the site, believes the situation reflects criminal negligence. He said, “Such an incident was bound to happen. The man was lucky he didn’t drown.”
Government Response
Local councillor Preeti Jain has been vocal about the issue. She stated, “I have repeatedly written to GMC since the start of the monsoon to cover these drains, but nothing has been done. Their excuses about roadside vendors are unacceptable.”
The GMC shifted some blame onto the mall management. An official claimed that the drain cover was removed for cleaning but said the mall staff removed the barricade set up after the work. They assured the public that barricades have been put back around the pit.
However, Kumar from the mall management disagreed. He insisted, “We never removed any barricade. What about the two dozen other open drains on the stretch that they have left uncovered? Those are equally dangerous.”
Conclusion
However, this incident illustrates a larger problem in Indirapuram. Many areas remain at risk due to uncovered drains. It is clear that the local authorities need to take immediate action. Community safety should always be a priority, especially for children who use these roads daily. People in Indirapuram hope this accident serves as a wake-up call for all involved.
