20-Year-Old Indian Merchant Navy Cadet Dies After Basketball Pole Falls On Him During Training

A 20-year-old cadet at Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI) in Pune died on Sunday morning after a basketball pole collapsed on him during a routine activity on campus.

The cadet, Vishal Verma, was from Ayodhya district in Uttar Pradesh. He was known on campus as a national-level athlete and one of the most accomplished cadets.

The incident happened at around 7:20 am on Sunday. While most cadets were still asleep, Vishal had already completed his morning training.

According to his classmates, he used to reach the ground by 6:30 am regularly and was preparing for a track and field event scheduled to begin on campus the next day.

After finishing his training, he was walking back to Hostel No. 1, where he stayed as part of Morarji House. The basketball court falls along that route. At the court, he attempted a dunk, which involves jumping and holding onto the rim.

As he hung from the hoop, the base of the pole suddenly gave way. Cadets said the structure had been weakened by rust. The entire pole collapsed and fell on his head.

The sound of the collapse brought other cadets to the spot. They found him with a severe head injury and immediately called the institute’s sickbay, which is about 200 metres away and has an ambulance stationed. However, according to those present, there was no response.

Cadets said the delay happened around the time of a shift change at 7:30 am. The next ambulance driver had not yet taken charge and was still getting ready at around 7:40 am. For nearly 20 minutes, Vishal remained at the site without medical help.

With no immediate assistance, cadets arranged a stretcher and began carrying him themselves. On the way, they stopped a faculty member’s car and shifted him into it.

They left the campus at around 7:50 am and reached MIMER Medical College and Hospital in Talegaon at 8:14 am, according to hospital records.

Doctors at the hospital said that when he arrived, his pulse and oxygen levels were not detectable. His Glasgow Coma Scale score was recorded at 3 out of 15.

Medical staff started CPR and intubation immediately. Three cycles of CPR were carried out over about 40 minutes, but he could not be revived.

He suffered a cardiac arrest and was declared dead. His body was later sent for post-mortem at a primary health centre in Talegaon.

Senior cadets said that a complaint had been submitted around 22 days before the incident, stating that both basketball poles on the court were shaking and unstable.

According to them, no repairs were carried out. Vishal’s uncle also said that the rusted portion of the pole had been painted over.

Students pointed out that they pay around ₹1.5 lakh every year towards maintenance, and the total cost of the four-year marine engineering course is about ₹27 lakh. They said basic safety checks and proper upkeep should have been ensured.

Police from Induri station have started recording statements from witnesses. Investigating officer Prashant Relekar said the absence of CCTV cameras at the basketball court is making the inquiry difficult.

An FIR has not yet been filed as Vishal’s parents are still in Uttar Pradesh.

The institute’s principal, Dr Sanjeet Kanungo, called the incident tragic but said no formal complaint had been received about the basketball poles.

He said the institute follows a regular maintenance schedule and that structural audits are conducted every 30 years. The pole involved in the incident was installed before the COVID period.

He said the institute is reviewing the medical response and will carry out a safety audit across departments with the help of a third-party agency. He also said discussions are ongoing regarding financial support for the family.

Many students, however, are not satisfied. The institute remained shut on Monday, and cadets have asked for classes to stay suspended until responsibility is fixed. Students said that an institute of this level should ensure that its infrastructure is safe for everyone on campus.

Reference: Indian Express