Pragya Thakur's 'knives' remarks: Will Karnataka Police take action against her?

On this Special Report, India Today speaks with Muninder Chaudhary, a delivery boy and eyewitness to a tragic drowning incident in Noida's Sector 150. Chaudhary alleges that despite the presence of the fire department and police, no rescue attempt was made for nearly two hours because officials claimed the water was too cold and dark. He states, 'I tied a rope around my waist and jumped into the water' after seeing the administration's inaction. Chaudhary further claims he is being pressured by the Noida Authority and local police to retract his viral statements regarding the lack of timely intervention. He clarifies that a video of him praising the administration was recorded under duress after being misled into visiting a police station. The program highlights the bravery of a common citizen and the serious allegations of negligence and intimidation within the local administration.

On this news bulletin, columnist Abhishek Asthana discusses the tragic death of an analytics professional in Noida and the systemic failures of urban infrastructure in India. Asthana highlights a 'democratisation of fault' where authorities, builders, and rescue teams shift blame to avoid accountability. He notes that the system survives on the 'short-term memory' of the public, waiting for the media cycle to move on to the next crisis. Comparing a swift rescue in Virginia, USA, to the 90-minute struggle of the victim in Noida, Asthana expresses disbelief at the lack of societal ownership and the failure of rapid response teams. He states, 'I think you have to be lucky to just survive, survive a turn of accidents, survive the traffic, survive the air pollution, survive bad water, survive high taxation, survive high cost of living and zero quality of life.' The discussion underscores the disparity between the dream of a 'Viksit Bharat' and the harsh reality of living in Indian metros.

On this India Today special report, Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor highlights the growing public outrage in Noida following the tragic death of 27-year-old software engineer Yubaraj. The victim remained trapped in a water-filled pit for four hours, pleading for help, while rescue teams allegedly failed to act due to a lack of coordination and equipment. Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor notes, 'Questions of negligence and administrative accountability have peaked,' specifically pointing towards Noida District Magistrate Medha Roopam and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). The program reveals that a similar truck accident occurred at the exact same spot 15 days prior, yet no barricades were installed by the Noida Authority. While the Noida Authority CEO has been sacked and builder Abhay Kumar arrested, residents express deep dissatisfaction with the systemic apathy. The report features ground updates from colleagues Gupinder and Anmol Bali, who speak with local residents demanding accountability for the 'killer pit' that claimed a young life despite repeated warnings to the authorities.

The District Magistrate of Noida, Medha Roopam, is facing mounting criticism over the death of software engineer Yuvraj Mehta.