Two bank employees have lost their lives after their car was submerged in a flooded railway underpass in Faridabad, Haryana, on Friday night. The incident occurred when the duo, Punyashray Sharma, 48, a manager, and Viraj, 26, a cashier at HDFC Bank’s Gurugram Sector 31 branch, were returning home to Greater Faridabad from Gurugram.
Ignoring Warnings Amidst Heavy Rains
The Faridabad region experienced significant rainfall throughout Friday, leading to severe waterlogging in several areas, including the Old Faridabad railway underpass. Police had reportedly set up barricades and issued warnings against entering the inundated underpass, which at certain points reached a depth of 12 feet. However, the occupants of the Mahindra XUV 700 allegedly disregarded these warnings and proceeded to enter the underpass around 11:50 pm.
According to police sub-inspector Rajesh Kumar, the occupants removed the barricades and entered the waterlogged underpass. Once the vehicle was submerged, the doors reportedly locked, trapping the occupants inside. Passers-by attempted to rescue the individuals and, after considerable effort, managed to pull them out of the submerged vehicle.
Tragic Outcome and Investigation
Despite the rescue efforts, Viraj was pronounced dead at the scene. Sharma was rushed to Badshah Khan Civil Hospital in Faridabad, where he was declared dead on arrival. Inspector Samer Singh, SHO of the NIT Faridabad police station, confirmed that the families of the deceased have been informed and that the bodies will be handed over to them after post-mortem examinations.
A colleague of the victims, Arjun Singh, suggested that Viraj, who was relatively new to the Delhi-NCR region, might not have been fully aware of the treacherous road conditions during heavy rainfall. The Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) has submitted a report to the Deputy Commissioner detailing the incident, noting that railway guards stationed at the underpass had also alerted the occupants, but the car was submerged rapidly, leading to the loss of balance for the occupants as they attempted to escape. A Junior Engineer reportedly entered the water to locate the individuals.
The incident highlights the dangers of entering waterlogged areas during heavy monsoon downpours and the critical importance of adhering to official warnings and advisories. The rainfall in Faridabad during the 24-hour period from Friday morning to Saturday morning was recorded at 56.4 mm, contributing to the severe flooding that led to this tragic outcome.
The Chenab Times News Desk