A 20-year-old cadet at Pune's Tolani Maritime Institute died from a fatal head injury after a basketball rim dislodged while he was hanging from it during exercise. The incident occurred on April 5, 2026, around 7:20 am. Fellow cadets have demanded a probe, alleging negligence by the institute.
Vishal Verma, a cadet at Tolani Maritime Institute in Pune's Talegaon area, was exercising on the sports ground when the basketball rim dislodged and struck his head. An officer from Talegaon MIDC police station said Verma sustained a critical head injury and was rushed to Talegaon General Hospital, where he was declared dead.
The 20-year-old from Ayodhya district in Uttar Pradesh was in his second year of BTech training. Police stated that after a run, he went to the basketball court and hung from the rim, leading to the collapse. Doctors confirmed the head injury was fatal.
Fellow cadets expressed outrage and alleged negligence by the institute, demanding a thorough probe. They claimed there was a delay in rushing him to the hospital.
DCP Shweta Khedkar told Aaj Tak that the incident has created a atmosphere of mourning among students, assuring strict action against those responsible. Police have registered an accidental death case and launched an inquiry, with heavy deployment to maintain order.
