A 17-year-old cadet in the first semester at the National Defense Academy died after suffering a medical emergency during a routine physical training session Friday morning, a statement from the Department of Defense said. The accident represents the third death of first-semester students at the academy since October of last year.
The student, identified as Abhinav Bajpai from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, joined the NDA on June 24, according to a statement issued by the Defense Public Relations Office in Pune.
Officials said Bajpai complained of discomfort and suddenly lost consciousness during the academy’s routine morning training session, which was the first formal physical training demonstration after the induction of the new batch.
“He was immediately transferred to the Military Hospital in Khadakwasla, where the medical team conducted intensive resuscitation efforts. Despite persistent efforts to revive him, he could not be revived and he was declared brought dead,” the statement read.
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The NDA ordered the establishment of a Court of Inquiry (COI) to ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident. Bajpai’s family has been informed of the death, and local police have also been notified, the statement said.
The latest incident comes months after the death of two first-semester NDA students in two separate incidents. In the fourth week of October last year, a student died during a swimming training session. Earlier that month, an 18-year-old first-semester student died in an alleged suicide.
