A 28-year-old mason from Bihar was found dead in the backseat of an unlocked car parked near Anand Vihar railway station on October 31, 2025, marking a tragic incident that has prompted a police investigation into possible negligence. The man, identified as Javed from Purnia district, was discovered unresponsive around 5:34 pm by the vehicle's owner, Senior Section Engineer (Electrical) Guru Pratap, who had left the car unsecured earlier that day. Authorities received a call about the body at approximately 7:30 pm and dispatched a team to the scene, where they recovered Javed's backpack, mobile phone, and clothes nearby, with no visible injury marks on his body. The case underscores the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers navigating urban transit hubs like Delhi's bustling railway stations.

CCTV footage reviewed by police pieced together the sequence of events leading to the fatality. At around 10:49 am, Guru Pratap parked his vehicle outside his office without locking it before heading inside. About 33 minutes later, at 11:22 am, Javed—who had arrived at the station to board a train to Bihar—entered the unlocked car and settled into the backseat, possibly seeking temporary shelter amid the crowded platform. The situation turned dire at 1:50 pm when one of the engineer's staff members retrieved a lunchbox from the vehicle and inadvertently locked the doors, trapping Javed inside without realising his presence. Between 1:54 pm and 3:13 pm, surveillance captured Javed's frantic movements as he attempted to exit, highlighting the panic that likely ensued in the confined space.

A post-mortem examination conducted at GTB Hospital confirmed that Javed succumbed to asphyxiation, likely due to oxygen depletion in the sealed environment over several hours of entrapment. This form of accidental suffocation is a rare but documented risk in vehicles, particularly in hot climates where air circulation fails, and it aligns with similar isolated cases reported in India's densely populated cities. The incident has drawn attention to safety protocols at railway facilities, where thousands of daily commuters, including labourers like Javed, rely on affordable travel amid economic pressures driving migration from states like Bihar to urban centres.

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As the investigation continues, police are exploring angles of potential oversight by the railway staff, though no foul play has been indicated. The tragedy serves as a sombre reminder of the need for heightened awareness around unattended vehicles in public spaces, with calls emerging for better signage and automated alerts at parking areas near stations. Javed's family in Purnia has been informed, and authorities are coordinating the return of his remains, while the broader episode amplifies ongoing discussions about migrant welfare and urban infrastructure resilience in the national capital.

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