Pune: Marine Engineering Student Dies After Basketball Pole Collapses While doing Pull-Ups
Pune, 6th April 2026: A 20-year-old marine engineering student lost his life after a basketball pole collapsed on him at the Tolani Maritime Institute in Induri, Maval, on Sunday.
The deceased, identified as Vishal Verma, was a second-year BTech student and a native of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. Police said the incident took place around 7.20 am at the institute’s sports facility.
According to officials from the Talegaon MIDC Police Station, Verma had gone to the basketball court after a run and was attempting pull-ups while hanging from the hoop structure when it suddenly gave way. The metal pole reportedly collapsed, causing him to fall and sustain severe injuries.
He suffered a critical neck and head injury, including a fracture consistent with blunt-force trauma. He was rushed to a hospital in Talegaon, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Senior police inspector Santosh Patil said preliminary findings indicate that the basketball structure was in a damaged condition and collapsed during use. A case of accidental death has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, fellow cadets at the institute have demanded a thorough probe into the incident, alleging possible negligence in maintenance of the sports facility. There are also unconfirmed claims of a delay in ambulance response, adding to concerns raised by students.
Police officials said the exact cause of the accident and any potential lapses will be determined after completion of the inquiry.
