New Delhi – A young man’s life was lost in the dead of night in Delhi’s Janakpuri area, sparking fresh anger over civic carelessness and bringing back Rahul Gandhi’s powerful #TINA message: “There Is No Accountability.”On February 5, 2026, 25-year-old Kamal Dhyani, a call centre employee at a private bank, was riding his motorcycle home to Kailashpuri around midnight. On Joginder Singh Marg, he hit a 15-foot-deep pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board for sewer pipeline work. No barricades, no reflectors, no warning signs. His bike plunged in, and he died from the fall and injuries.

The family waited anxiously when he didn’t reach home. They rushed out, checking hospitals, roads, and police stations. They visited six stations, but police said they must wait 24 hours to file a missing person report. “He told our mother to prepare chapatis… we were planning our parents’ anniversary the next day,” family members shared in heartbreak. Only in the morning did a passerby hear a ringing phone from the pit and alert authorities. Police recovered Kamal’s body and bike using a crane.
This tragedy has once again exposed how open pits and poor safety kill innocent people in Delhi. It comes soon after a similar case in Noida where a techie lost his life in a water-filled pit.
The Painful Night for the Family
Kamal was the family’s hope and support. He worked hard, always caring for his parents. That evening, he called home excited about the anniversary celebration. But when he didn’t arrive, panic set in. The family spent the whole night searching, running between stations. Friends and relatives joined, but help was slow. “If action had been quicker, perhaps he could have been saved,” one relative said. The 24-hour rule for missing reports frustrated them deeply. Experts note such delays are common but can be deadly in emergencies.

The pit was part of a DJB sewer rehabilitation project. Locals complain these sites are often left unsafe – no lights, no guards. “We see this daily, but no one listens until someone dies,” a nearby resident said.
Police and Official Actions
Delhi Police registered an FIR against the contractor and DJB officials under culpable homicide sections. Three engineers – Junior, Assistant, and Executive – were suspended immediately. Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood ordered a detailed probe and site inspection. DJB said they are checking what went wrong and blamed the contractor for skipping safety steps.
But many ask: Is suspension enough? Will real punishment follow? Families in past cases often wait years for justice.
Rahul Gandhi Revives #TINA Campaign
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was quick to respond. He linked this death to a pattern of failures – roads, bridges, water, fires – all because of zero accountability. Using his #TINA hashtag, he posted: “Roads kill, bridges kill, fires kill… #TINA. There Is No Accountability. Until there is accountability, one after another will continue to fall victim to the epidemic of greed.”

Rahul had first used #TINA after the Noida techie Yuvraj Mehta’s death in January 2026, where a car fell into a deep pit amid fog. He said such tragedies aren’t due to lack of money or tech, but because no one is held responsible. The Janakpuri case gave his campaign new strength. People on social media shared the post widely, saying “TINA” sums up Delhi’s civic mess perfectly.
Strong Words from Other Leaders
Aam Aadmi Party’s Saurabh Bhardwaj called it the death of “another innocent bread-earner” due to government negligence. Arvind Kejriwal and other opposition voices called it “murder” by apathy. They pointed to hundreds of similar deaths – from open manholes, wall collapses, electrocution, and more – in recent years.
BJP leaders defended ongoing development but agreed safety must improve. The Lieutenant Governor asked for a full review of projects.
A Pattern of Dangerous Negligence
Delhi sees many such accidents. Open pits from water, sewer, or road works are common. In 2025, over 10 people died in sewers or pits. Children fell into uncovered drains, workers died without safety gear. In Noida, Yuvraj Mehta pleaded for help for hours before drowning. In Ghaziabad and Najafgarh, similar stories.

Why does this keep happening? Poor planning, stolen manhole covers, contractors cutting corners, weak enforcement. Laws exist, but fines are small, and follow-up is rare.
What Needs to Change?
People demand real steps: mandatory barricades, lights, and guards at every site. Faster police response to missing persons. Harsh punishment for negligence – suspensions aren’t enough; resignations or jail time if needed. Use machines for dangerous work. Public should report hazards quickly.
Kamal’s family wants justice. “He was returning from work, full of life. One careless mistake took him away,” his mother said through tears.
As Rahul Gandhi’s #TINA echoes louder, it reminds everyone: until accountability is real, more lives will be lost to greed and neglect. Delhi must wake up before another family suffers like Kamal’s.
FAQs
Q1. What is the #TINA campaign by Rahul Gandhi?
A : #TINA stands for “There Is No Accountability.” Rahul Gandhi uses it to criticize how accidents happen in India not because of lack of funds or technology, but due to no one being held responsible. He linked it to the Janakpuri pit death and earlier cases like Noida.
Q2. What happened to Kamal Dhyani in Janakpuri?
A : On February 5, 2026, midnight, 25-year-old Kamal’s motorcycle fell into a 15-foot DJB pit with no safety measures. He died. Body found next morning after family searched all night.
Q3. Why did the family face delays from police?
A : Police asked to wait 24 hours for a missing report. Family visited multiple stations but got no quick help. This is a standard rule, but many say it needs change in urgent cases.
Q4. What action was taken against officials?
A : FIR filed against contractor and DJB officials. Three engineers suspended. Probe ordered, site to be inspected.
Q5. How did Rahul Gandhi react to this incident?
A : He posted using #TINA, saying deaths from roads, pits, etc., are due to lack of accountability and an “epidemic of greed.” He connected it to similar tragedies.
Q6. Are there similar incidents in Delhi-NCR?
A : Yes. Noida techie Yuvraj Mehta died in a pit in January 2026. Many die yearly from open manholes, sewers, and construction sites due to poor safety.
Q7. What did AAP leaders say?
A : Saurabh Bhardwaj called it loss of another innocent life due to negligence. They blamed BJP governance for repeated failures.
Q8. How can such deaths be prevented?
A : Strict safety at sites – barricades, signs, lights. Quick police action. Punish contractors and officials hard. Public reporting of hazards. Better coordination between agencies.
Q9. What is the bigger message from #TINA?
A : Rahul says greed and no accountability kill people. Until officials face real consequences, urban problems will continue.
Q10. What can people do?
A : Report open pits to DJB/police helplines. Support campaigns like #TINA. Be careful on roads at night. Demand better governance.
