Haryana: Rusted poles kill 2 budding basketball players
Two young basketball players from Haryana, Aman Kumar (15) and Hardik Rathi (16), lost their lives in back-to-back accidents after rusted poles collapsed on them during practice.
Both incidents happened just a day apart—Aman in Bahadurgarh and Hardik in Rohtak—putting a spotlight on the poor upkeep of sports facilities.
What happened next
Aman, who had won medals at school games, was remembered by his father for his dedication to athletics.
Hardik, a national-level player prepping for the Under-17 Nationals, died under similar circumstances.
Their deaths sparked public outrage over ignored safety complaints.
Political leaders described the situation as "sheer government negligence," leading to the suspension of a district sports officer and urgent inspections across Haryana's sports grounds.
The tragedies have sparked a broader conversation about keeping young athletes safe.