Haryana: Two teen basketball players lose lives as rusted poles collapse
Two young basketball players from Haryana—15-year-old Aman Kumar and 16-year-old national player Hardik Rathi—tragically died when old, rusted basketball poles collapsed during their practice sessions at different stadiums in late November.
CCTV footage showed Hardik hanging from a rim just before the pole gave way, highlighting how unsafe the equipment was despite repeated complaints.
Families allege negligence; safety audits now ordered
Families have filed police cases against officials and contractors for criminal negligence, saying repairs were ignored even though funds were available.
The District Sports Officer in Rohtak has been suspended, and investigations are underway.
In response, the Sports Ministry has called for statewide safety audits and removal of hazardous equipment to prevent such tragedies in the future.