Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday ordered a detailed assessment of infrastructure in all sports complexes. His decision came after the deaths of a junior national-level player and another teenager when rusted iron poles in basketball courts collapsed on them.
The Chief Minister expressed deep condolences over the deaths. An official statement stated that Rs 5 lakh financial assistance would be given to the families of each of the young athletes.
Minister of State for Sports Gaurav Gautam also directed officers to immediately stop the use of any unsafe sports infrastructure in the state immediately.
Two teenage basketball players died in similar accidents in Haryana after iron poles holding the hoops collapsed on them.
Sixteen-year-old Hardik Rathi, who had competed in the national sub-junior basketball championship, died in Rohtak on Tuesday. In another incident, fifteen-year-old Aman, who was hurt in Bahadurgarh, died during treatment at PGIMS Rohtak on Monday night.
Both tragedies have highlighted the poor condition of sports infrastructure in the state.
The incidents triggered outrage, with opposition parties criticising the BJP-led government. Families of the victims also blamed the authorities for failing to maintain sports facilities.
As per the statement issued on Thursday, Saini has ordered a complete inspection of every sports complex. The government said athlete safety is the top priority, and the Sports Department has been told to strengthen repair and maintenance work. Saini issued strict instructions to officials, stating that such accidents must not happen again.
On Wednesday, when asked about the Rohtak incident, Saini told mediapersons he would gather full details before commenting on the incidents.
Minister Gaurav Gautam said a high-level probe would be conducted, and anyone found responsible would face action.
In a statement, Gautam said the government was committed to offering safe and improved sports facilities to all players. Expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of young players, he said such incidents cannot be accepted and immediate steps are being taken.
He also directed the Motilal Nehru School of Sports in Rai Sonipat, deputy directors of Sports Boards in Ambala, Hisar, Rohtak and Gurugram, and all district sports officers to carry out a full inspection of buildings and sports equipment in all complexes.
He said any equipment that is unsafe, damaged, or poses a risk to players must be taken out of use immediately. He told officers to stop the use of any unsafe sports infrastructure at once in all sports complexes across the state.
He added that repairs of damaged equipment and structures must be done without delay using funds available with District Sports Councils. He said if funds have already been released to the Public Works Department or the Sports and Physical Fitness Authority of Haryana, the departments concerned must coordinate and finish repairs quickly.
He further directed that no unsafe equipment or damaged buildings should be used by players in any sports complex to prevent accidents. He made it clear that any negligence in carrying out these directions will not be tolerated, and the responsible officers will be held personally accountable.
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