The Haryana Sports Department has been thrust into a state of emergency following the fatal accidents of two promising teenage basketball players, both killed by collapsing sports equipment at state-run facilities within a 48-hour period. In a strong demonstration of accountability, the department has suspended the District Sports Officer (DSO) of Rohtak and temporarily shuttered the district’s basketball nursery, launching a sweeping, state-wide safety audit of all public sports infrastructure.
The back-to-back tragedies have ignited urgent concerns regarding the neglected and dilapidated condition of sports equipment and venues across Haryana, compelling immediate intervention from the state government.
The latest fatality occurred in Rohtak, where a 16-year-old national-level basketball player died on Tuesday morning. The young athlete, who had earned medals at multiple national championships, was reportedly engaging in solo practice at the Lakhan Majra sports ground when a severely rusted iron pole gave way. CCTV footage captured the horrific moment the structure suddenly collapsed, striking the player in the chest. He succumbed to his injuries during treatment, sending shockwaves through the local sports community.
This incident closely followed an equally devastating tragedy two days prior in Bahadurgarh. There, a 15-year-old player suffered fatal injuries after a basketball pole collapsed on him while practising at the Hoshiar Singh Sports Stadium. Despite being rushed for medical care, the teenager could not be saved.
The sequential nature of the court accidents prompted an immediate and decisive response from State Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam, who took “strict cognisance” of the accidents, noting the second fatality was also caused by what he termed “dilapidated equipment.”
Minister Gautam immediately convened a high-level departmental meeting scheduled for November 28 at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, summoning senior officials and all district sports officers to address the crisis. In addition to the suspension of the Rohtak DSO, an urgent circular was issued across the state, deeming the deaths “serious and unfortunate” and demanding immediate action to prevent further loss of life.
The directives also carried a stern warning: the department declared a “zero tolerance” policy for the use of unsafe facilities. Crucially, officers were explicitly warned that any future accident resulting from non-compliance would invite strict disciplinary action, with personal responsibility and accountability placed squarely on the district officer in charge. The move signifies a significant shift towards enforcing stricter safety standards and personal liability for the condition of state sports infrastructure.
