Contractor Visited Site, Saw Trapped Biker, and Left Without Helping

New Delhi: In a disturbing turn of events, Delhi Police have arrested a sub-contractor following the death of a 25-year-old motorcyclist who fell into an unguarded, 14-foot-deep pit in Janakpuri. The victim, Kamal Dhyani, remained trapped in the excavation for over six hours overnight, with no immediate rescue efforts made despite several people—including the sub-contractor himself—being aware of the accident.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar, the pit had been freshly dug on the afternoon of January 5 for water-related works linked to the Delhi Jal Board. Unlike an earlier nearby pit that regular commuters knew about, this new excavation lacked any barricades, warning signs, reflectors, or lighting—basic safety measures that were completely absent.

The incident occurred late on Thursday night when Kamal Dhyani, while riding home, plunged into the open trench along with his motorcycle. An eyewitness, Vipin Singh, spotted the fall as he was returning from a wedding in Rohini to his home in Sagarpur. Singh informed a security guard at a nearby residential complex, who in turn alerted a labourer named Yogesh working for the contractor.

Call records show that Yogesh contacted his boss, sub-contractor Rajesh Kumar Prajapati, a resident of Tri Nagar, at 12:22 am to report the accident. Prajapati reached the location within 15-20 minutes and saw the victim and the motorcycle—its headlight still on—inside the pit. Despite this, he did not call police, summon help, or take any action to assist the injured man, reportedly because he felt frightened. He simply left the scene.

Kamal Dhyani lay in the pit unattended until the following morning. Police received the first alert around 8:03 am on Friday from a woman who was taking her son to school. She noticed the motorcycle in the pit, initially tried to seek help from a different security guard (who showed no interest), and eventually called the Police Control Room herself after others at the spot made excuses and refused to assist.

Investigators are now searching for labourer Yogesh, who is believed to have left for his hometown in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. Police have also questioned the security guard and plan to examine the main contractor who engaged Prajapati. Authorities have sought documentation from the Delhi Jal Board to determine the exact employer and project details at the time.