Authorities in Pune have filed a case of negligence resulting in death against four officials, including the principal, at the Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI) following the tragic death of 20-year-old cadet Vishal Verma. The incident occurred on April 5 when Vishal sustained critical head injuries after a basketball hoop structure collapsed while he was exercising at the institute’s Induri campus.
Vishal, a second-year B.Tech student from Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, was reportedly doing pull-ups on the basketball hoop when the supporting iron pole gave way, causing it to fall on him. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The First Information Report (FIR) names Principal Sanjeet Kanungo and three unnamed individuals responsible for sports maintenance, with the victim’s family alleging that the equipment was in a dilapidated state and lacked proper maintenance.
Additionally, the family claims that there was a delay in medical assistance, as no emergency services were available on campus at the time. Reports suggest that senior cadets had previously raised concerns about the stability of the basketball poles. However, Principal Kanungo denied any formal complaints, labeling the incident as an unfortunate accident. An initial accidental death report indicated that the lack of maintenance could have contributed to the tragedy, prompting further investigation by the police to determine accountability.
