A 16-year-old national-level basketball player, Hardik Rathi, died on Tuesday in Lakhan Majra village in Haryana’s Rohtak, after a rusted basketball hoop pole collapsed on him during practice.

He was taken to a nearby hospital but did not survive, police said.

Locals claimed the stadium’s maintenance had been pending despite funds being released. Police registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Hardik, a Class 10 student and son of a government employee, had recently returned from a training camp.

Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda blamed the BJP government and officials for failing to use the ₹18.5 lakh he had sanctioned for repairs, calling the incident a result of corruption and neglect. Suspended district sports officer Anoop Singh said ₹2.1 crore had been released for repairs across 14 stadiums, but tenders were still pending.

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said he was unaware of the incident and would seek details. Minister Krishan Lal Panwar called the deaths “unfortunate” and ordered an investigation.

The tragedy follows a similar incident in Bahadurgarh on Sunday, where 15-year-old Aman died after another basketball pole collapsed.

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