The Indian sports community is mourning the tragic loss of 16-year-old national-level basketball player Hardik Rathee, who died in a devastating accident during practice at the Lakhan Majra sports complex in Rohtak district, Haryana.
Political Leaders Offer Condolences to Grieving Family
Two days after the fatal incident, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited Hardik's family at their residence in Lakhan Majra village on Thursday. Mann was accompanied by Haryana AAP unit president Sushil Gupta and AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda, arriving by helicopter to offer their condolences.
The visit came after several Congress leaders, including MPs Deepender Singh Hooda and Varun Chaudhary, met the grieving family on Wednesday evening, demonstrating cross-party concern over the tragic incident that has shocked the sporting community.
Details of the Tragic Accident
The fatal accident occurred on Tuesday when a basketball post, allegedly in poor condition, collapsed into Hardik's chest as he attempted a dunk during practice. The structural failure of the sports equipment has raised serious questions about maintenance standards at government sports facilities.
This incident marks the second such tragedy in the region within days. Just three days earlier in neighboring Bahadurgarh, another teenage basketball player, 15-year-old Aman, died in a similar incident when a basketball pole fell on him during training at the Shaheed Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Stadium.
Government Response and Investigation
After inspecting the court and meeting the family, Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam expressed deep sorrow, stating that the nation had lost a "rare talent" who could have brought glory to the country on the world stage.
"Hardik was a gem of a sportsperson who could have brought glory to the country on the world stage. This grief is not only the family's but that of the entire society and the nation," Gautam said during his visit.
When questioned about administrative negligence, the Sports Minister confirmed that those responsible have already been suspended and a thorough investigation will be conducted. "The matter will be thoroughly investigated, and whoever is found guilty will face action," he assured.
The investigation has revealed concerning details about fund utilization. Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda pointed out that his son, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, had allocated Rs 12.3 lakh plus an additional Rs 6.2 lakh from the MPLAD fund for the Lakhan Majra ground development, but the money remained only on paper with no actual work carried out.
Responding to questions about the unused MPLAD funds, Gautam stated: "The funds were sent to the panchayat department. Why they were not utilised will be investigated, and action will follow accordingly."
Broader Safety Concerns and Future Measures
The back-to-back tragedies have highlighted serious safety concerns in sports infrastructure across Haryana. When asked about steps being taken to prevent such incidents, Gautam emphasized that sports nurseries and playgrounds are the responsibility of the sports department and issues are being addressed systematically.
The minister revealed significant financial investments in infrastructure maintenance, stating: "We have invested heavily in maintaining sports infrastructure. Rs 150 crore has already been given to the PWD department for maintenance, and over the past 10 years, Rs 600 crore has been spent on infrastructure upkeep."
The tragic death of Hardik Rathee has sparked urgent calls for comprehensive safety audits of all sports facilities in the state and stricter maintenance protocols to prevent similar accidents from claiming young lives in the future.
