Chandigarh, 26 Nov

Two teenage boys, including a national-level basketball player, died in separate freak accidents in Haryana’s Rohtak and Bahadurgarh after iron poles of basketball hoops collapsed on them, prompting sharp political criticism and a probe into the condition of sports infrastructure.

In Rohtak, 16-year-old national-level player Hardik Rathi died during practice on Tuesday when a rusted pole gave way and fell on his chest. CCTV footage showed him reaching for the hoop before the structure suddenly collapsed. Fellow players rushed him to hospital, but he succumbed to internal injuries, police said.

In Bahadurgarh, Aman, 15, suffered similar injuries on Sunday while practising on a government school court and died at PGIMS Rohtak the following night. Police said both incidents are under investigation, including the condition and maintenance of the equipment.

Hardik’s brother, Khadak Singh, alleged repeated complaints about the rusted pole were ignored and blamed official negligence for the deaths. He said Hardik, who participated in national sub-junior championships, dreamed of leading India’s basketball team.

Opposition leaders accused the BJP government of allowing sports infrastructure to deteriorate. Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Randeep Singh Surjewala and MP Deepender Hooda alleged “criminal negligence”, saying facilities built under the previous government were left to decay. Surjewala termed Hardik’s death “a murder by the system”.