Kolkata, September 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has issued a show-cause notice to the director of a maritime training institute in Pune, Maharashtra, over the death of a cadet who was critically injured after a basketball pole collapsed on him on the institute campus earlier this year.
Vishal Verma, a BTech marine engineering student, suffered severe head injuries on April 5 after a basketball pole fell on him while he was passing through the basketball court area. He was taken to MIMER Hospital, where he died at around 9:51 a.m., within a few hours of the accident.
The institute informed the DGMA about the incident on April 7 and assured that a detailed inquiry would be conducted. The Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), Mumbai, subsequently conducted its own preliminary inquiry and submitted its findings to the DGMA. The show-cause notice was issued on September 7 based on the report.
According to the MMD report, Verma was passing through the basketball court area at around 7:35 a.m. when a pole suddenly collapsed and trapped him underneath, causing severe injuries. The duty warden was informed and emergency assistance was initiated.
The injured cadet was initially taken towards the sick bay. However, the institute ambulance did not arrive, following which he was transported to MIMER Hospital in a private vehicle.
The inquiry found that similar basketball poles had shown signs of deterioration during repair work in 2023. Holes and corrosion were detected in poles at Basketball Court-A, including at the same location where the pole at Court-B later fractured and caused the fatal accident. The affected sections at Court-A were replaced.
However, for Courts B and C, the inquiry found that only surface treatment and painting had been carried out, without a proper structural assessment, integrity check or engineering evaluation.
The DGMA said the approach appeared to have been limited to treating visible rust after scraping, without systematically checking for metal thinning, hidden corrosion, structural material loss or weaknesses at critical locations. It also noted that no record of an engineering or structural assessment of the courts following the deterioration identified in 2023 was available.
The notice further stated that although the institute had a safety committee, there was no record showing that the basketball structure at Court-B had been specifically reviewed or assessed by the committee before the accident.
The failed pole was subsequently found to have corrosion, thinning and loss of structural material at the point of failure. The inquiry attributed the fracture to corrosion and wastage, indicating that the structural integrity of the pole had already been compromised before the accident.
The MMD also found no evidence of a campus-wide structural risk assessment covering all basketball poles or a comprehensive review of similar sports and recreational infrastructure.
The DGMA said the findings prima facie indicated deficiencies in the institute’s duty of care towards cadets living, studying and using facilities under its control. It said the institute was responsible for maintaining its infrastructure and ensuring its safe use, and was required to exercise reasonable care, due diligence and foresight in dealing with foreseeable risks.
The notice also cited DGS Circular No. 23 of 2020, which requires Maritime Training Institutes to maintain an effective Quality Standards System, including internal audits, identification of deficiencies, corrective measures and root-cause analysis. It noted that deficiencies in the system may be treated as major non-conformities and could invite further regulatory action if not satisfactorily rectified.
The DGMA also referred to Para 2.19 of DGS Order No. 07 of 2016, which requires institutes to maintain arrangements for medical emergencies, including a first-aid dispensary, daily availability of a doctor, a tie-up with a nearby hospital or clinic and a vehicle with a driver available round the clock.
In this case, the preliminary inquiry recorded that the institute ambulance did not arrive after the accident and Verma had to be taken to hospital in a private vehicle.
The institute’s director has been directed to submit a reply within 15 days of receiving the show-cause notice. Failure to respond may result in further action under applicable regulations.
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