4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Feb 8, 2026 04:36 AM IST
A day after 25-year-old Kamal Dhyani died after falling into a deep pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in West Delhi’s Janakpuri, senior police officers said on Saturday that a sub-contractor, who was tasked with digging the pit, had seen Kamal lying dead in it but choose not to inform the authorities.
Rajesh Prajapati, the sub-contractor, was arrested on Saturday. “Prajapati knew that someone had fallen into the pit, hours before the matter came to the police’s notice,” DCP (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar said.
The incident, police said, was first spotted by a man who was passing by the road with his family in a car. “The man alerted a watchman named Yogesh, who then called Rajesh Prajapati. Following this, Prajapati reached the spot, saw Kamal’s body, but returned without alerting the authorities,” a senior officer said.
The officer added that the main contractor, who was laying sewer pipelines in the area, will now be summoned for questioning. The DJB officials who were suspended on Friday after the incident — a junior engineer, an assistant engineer, and an executive engineer — will also be questioned, said police. The pit in which Kamal fell had been dug only on February 4, officials have said.
Kamal’s father Naresh Chand Dhyani, meanwhile, said on Saturday that the family will approach the court seeking justice. “We will explore all legal options and go to court. Kamal was going to be promoted to a managerial position. We don’t want this to happen to anyone else’s son,” he told mediapersons.
Kamal had spoken to his brother just before midnight, and told him he would be home soon.
The lawyer representing the family, Astha Chaturvedi, told PTI, “There were no warning signs, reflectors or lighting at the site… The pit was not covered properly, nor was any barricading placed around it to warn commuters… The Delhi Jal Board showed complete carelessness.” Chaturvedi also raised concerns over the pace of the investigation, alleging that CCTV footage from the area has not been provided even after more than 24 hours since the incident.
The FIR lodged in the case claimed there were no proper safety arrangements, no guards, and no warning signs and reflectors around the DJB pit due to which the victim fell into it on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.
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Registered under sections of culpable homicide against unknown persons, the FIR also claimed that a preliminary inquiry has shown that DJB officials and the contractor knew that someone could fall into the open pit —dug up in the middle of the road — if there were no safety measures in place and yet no action was taken.
The initial MLC (medico-legal case) report of the deceased, a telecaller with HDFC Bank, noted “grazed abrasion over epigastric region” as the only main injury, the FIR claimed.
Chief Secy issues 8-point safety framework
# The Delhi Chief Secretary on Saturday asked all departments to submit reports containing details of excavation/digging sites under their jurisdiction within the next three days.
# Also issues 8-point safety framework to be followed by all depts involved in construction/excavation work, including PWD, DJB, I&FC, discoms, DSIIDC, DDA and MCD, among others.
The measures to be followed
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# Proper, adequate warning signage
# Reflector lights, blinkers and/or luminous tapes
# Strong, continuous and conspicuous barricading
# No excavated material/digging should be visible or cause dust pollution
# Safe pedestrian pathways and traffic diversion arrangements
# Clear responsibility for compliance to be fixed
# Regular inspections
