Days after a 45-year-old hospital manager from Faridabad died after his motorcycle plunged into a ditch near the Manjhawali Bridge connecting Faridabad and Greater Noida, authorities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh continue to trade blame over responsibility for the accident site.
Atul Joshi, a resident of Faridabad, met with the accident on the intervening night of June 14 and 15 while travelling towards Noida. Police said he survived the initial crash around 11 pm but succumbed to his injuries after allegedly lying unattended for more than eight hours in the isolated area. Locals spotted him around 7.30 am the next morning.
No Barricades At Accident Site
A visit to the spot revealed mounds of soil, deep ditches, broken bottles and discarded packets of chips scattered across the incomplete approach road leading to the Yamuna bridge. No barricades or warning signs were visible at the location where Joshi’s motorcycle is believed to have fallen.
Vehicles were seen navigating through unpaved stretches and kutcha roads near the bridge. Drivers heading towards Noida were frequently stopping to ask for directions, indicating confusion caused by the incomplete road network.
Police said Joshi was riding at a high speed and may not have noticed that the paved road ended abruptly in the darkness, causing him to fall into a ditch. His helmet was reportedly damaged in the crash, leading to serious injuries.
Haryana, UP Trade Responsibility
The tragedy has triggered a jurisdictional dispute between authorities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Officials from Uttar Pradesh claimed the accident site falls under Haryana’s jurisdiction, while Haryana authorities maintained that their portion of the project had been completed and that the remaining work, including safety measures, was the responsibility of Uttar Pradesh.
Officials from both states confirmed discussions were underway regarding the installation of barricades and safety infrastructure at the unfinished stretch.
The accident has drawn comparisons with a similar incident in Delhi’s Janakpuri earlier this year, where a young man died after falling into a construction pit.