Gurugram basketball hoop collapse leaves 24-year-old man with spinal fractures; residents claim negligence

A 24-year-old man suffered three fractures in his spine after a basketball stick collapsed on him while he was playing with friends at a society in Sector 84, Gurugram, according to TOI.

Kartik Dalal, a resident of upmarket Antkrish Heights, was seen on CCTV footage on Sunday night playing basketball as one of his friends briefly hung from the pole. The entire post then collapsed onto Dalal, who was standing under the basket. He was trapped under the frame until others pulled him out. Dalal was taken to a private hospital in Sector 90 where he is undergoing treatment.

Tamanna Dalal, Kartik’s sister, told TOI, “My brother was just playing basketball with his friends when the pole suddenly collapsed on him. He suffered three major fractures in his spine. This could have claimed his life. It is gross negligence on the part of the builder, maintenance agency, RWA and all those responsible for maintaining the grounds.” She added that the family had approached the police but no FIR had been lodged at the time she spoke to reporters.

She also claimed that the incident was not taken seriously by the residential society. Giving further details to TOI, she said, “The wardens didn’t even arrange an ambulance. It was children who were playing with my brother who rushed to his aid. Some people dismissed the incident saying, ‘Only a pillar fell, the child is alive.’ They don’t understand how serious a spinal injury can be. No one from the management even came to the hospital and contacted the family.”

The buyers’ association is demanding an investigation

The Antkrish Heights Buyers’ Association has alleged negligence in the maintenance of common facilities and has asked for an inquiry into the incident. It also called for an independent audit of the company’s maintenance procedures.

Association president retired commander Yogesh Chauhan told TOI, “The condition of the pole was brought to the notice of residents and players several times, but no remedial action was taken. The pole was improperly fixed in the ground, making it unsafe. This accident was completely preventable.”

Residents have also repeatedly reported several maintenance issues in recent years, from falling plaster to repeated elevator malfunctions and even unsafe children’s play equipment.

The pattern of collapses in recent months

It is the latest in a series of accidents involving collapsing basketball hoops over the past nine months. In each of the three other cases, men were killed, according to NDTV.

Most recently, in April, Vishal Verma (20), a second-year student of Tolani Maritime Institute, died after a back plate fell on his head. The cadet was doing pull-ups on a basketball hoop when the entire frame collapsed on top of him, NDTV reported.

In November, two separate incidents took place in Haryana. In Rohtak, Hardik Rathi, selected for the national team, died when the pole collapsed on his chest. A few weeks ago, a 15-year-old student Aman died in Bahadurgarh district when an iron rod fell on him in a similar incident.