A major accident was narrowly avoided in Saharanpur late Tuesday night when a car carrying a family fell into an 11-foot-deep pit that had allegedly been left open due to the negligence of a municipal contractor. The incident took place around 1 am near Jukhedi village. Virendra, a resident, was driving his mother to Gangoh for medical treatment.

Along with them were his wife, children, and brother. While passing the area, the car suddenly sank into a deep pit dug in the middle of the road. Fortunately, all the passengers managed to escape from the vehicle with the help of locals. The ailing mother was then rushed to the hospital for treatment.

According to villagers, the pit had been dug by a municipal contractor as part of boring work. However, no warning signs, barricades, or safety arrangements were in place to alert drivers about the hazard. This negligence, residents said, could have easily resulted in a serious tragedy. On Wednesday morning, a crane and bulldozer were brought in to lift the car out of the pit.

The incident has sparked anger among locals. They accused the contractor of “gross negligence” and said such careless work could cause a fatal accident at any time, especially at night when visibility is low. Villagers also pointed out that if another vehicle had crossed the road at the same time, the accident might have claimed lives.

Locals have demanded strict action against the contractor responsible for the unsafe digging. They also urged authorities to ensure that proper safety measures, like barricades and warning signs, are always put in place when such roadwork is being carried out.

The accident shows the risks faced by commuters when contractors and authorities fail to follow basic safety guidelines, and villagers are calling for accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future.