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Haryana News: Two teenagers died in separate basketball court accidents in Haryana this week, raising serious concerns about the condition of sports infrastructure and the lack of basic maintenance. The incidents were reported from Rohtak and Bahadurgarh, where the iron poles of basketball hoops collapsed during practice, fatally injuring the players. 

Rohtak Teen Dies After Hoop Pole Collapses During Practice

The first death occurred on Tuesday in Rohtak’s Lakhan Majra village, where 16-year-old national-level player Hardik Rathi was practising at a sports complex. CCTV footage captured the moment he reached for the hoop during a drill. As he hung from the rim, the pole suddenly uprooted and crashed onto his chest. Other players nearby rushed to help him and took him to hospital, but he did not survive. Hardik was known for representing Haryana in several national championships and had recently attended a training camp.

Hardik’s brother, Khadak Singh, blamed the authorities for ignoring repeated warnings. He said the pole was rusted and unsafe. “Hardik used to train twice a day. As soon as he tried to touch the hoop on Tuesday morning, it got uprooted and fell on his chest, leading to internal bleeding, which proved fatal,” he said.

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Police said a case has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The local SHO, Samarjeet Singh, confirmed that the post-mortem was completed at PGIMS Rohtak and the body was handed over to the family. According to him, “The circumstances leading to the collapse of the iron poles in both incidents, including the condition of the equipment, are being probed.”

Bahadurgarh Reports Similar Accident Two Days Earlier

The second incident took place two days earlier in Bahadurgarh, where 15-year-old Aman died after a similar pole collapse at a government school’s basketball court. He was taken to PGIMS Rohtak but succumbed to his injuries during treatment. His family alleged lapses in timely medical care.

Opposition Blames BJP Government For Poor Sports Infrastructure

The deaths sparked an immediate political row with opponents accusing the state government of allowing sports infrastructure to deteriorate. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda alleged that funds were sanctioned earlier but not used for repairs. He said, “The way two lives have been lost, it is no less than criminal negligence for which the government is responsible.” In a separate statement, he added, “I had released Rs 18.5 lakh for the maintenance of Lakhan Majra stadium, where the recent incident took place but the money was not spent by officials.”

Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala also criticised the government, claiming, “Hardik was a promising young talent from Haryana. Can the BJP government return the son to his parents? CM Nayab Saini also bears direct responsibility.”

Haryana CM Nayab Saini Informed 

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said he had been informed about the matter only recently. “I will gather all the details and will comment further after reviewing the matter,” he told reporters in Chandigarh.

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District Sports Officer Suspended After Initial Probe

Following the public outcry, Haryana’s Minister of State for Sports, Gaurav Gautam, suspended the District Sports Officer and halted operations at the basketball nursery in Rohtak. He described the death as tragic. “This is a very unfortunate incident. A talented player is no longer with us... A thorough investigation is underway, and strict action will be taken in this matter. An inquiry has been ordered,” he said.

Officials later admitted that the basketball poles were old and should have been replaced. A committee has now been set up to inspect equipment across the district. The in-charge of Rajiv Gandhi Stadium and the basketball coach have also been included in the inquiry panel.

Haryana Development and Panchayat Minister Krishan Lal Panwar called the deaths “unfortunate” and said all sports courts, including those in private schools, would be checked. “We will write to the Sports Department and the Education Department regarding this,” he said.

The government has scheduled a high-level review meeting for November 28, where officials will discuss safety procedures, overdue repairs and administrative responsibility.

(With Inputs From PTI)

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