Sports dept forms probe panel into players' death

Bhopal: The sports department has constituted a probe committee to inquire into the circumstances in which the MP hockey academy players were given permission to leave the team and visit Itarsi.

Four junior hockey players died in a car accident on NH 66 while returning to Hoshangabad from Itarsi after celebrating a teammate’s birthday on Monday morning.

Talking to TOI, director of sports SL Thaosen said the incident has shocked the sports department.

“It was a tragic incident in which we lost four promising hockey players. The department is supporting the families in their hour of grief,” said Thaosen.

Regarding the probe, Thaosen said, “Police are probing the accident. I have formed a committee led by deputy director BS Yadav who will look into the matter and submit a report in the next one week. I am told that the Aadarsh Hardua took formal permission from coaches before leaving for Itarsi for his birthday celebration. Nevertheless, inquiry will be done to find out whether the protocol was followed or not while giving the permission.”

Sources said Adarsh had called up her mother to talk to coaches for permission.

Senior coaches objected to giving permission to players in the middle of the tournament. “It was the responsibility of coaches to take care of the team. I fail to understand why players were allowed to travel at night even though it was a birthday celebration,” said a senior coach. He even raised the question over 7 players travelling in a car. “I am still not able to understand why 7 individuals were allowed to travel in a car. In fact, there were 8 people who went to Itarsi to celebrate Aadarsh’s birthday. One player went to Itarsi on his bike to attend the birthday celebration as he could not be accommodated in the car,” said another coach. Sources said Aadarsh’s cousin Ravi Hardua, who was also part of the team, was travelling on his bike when accident took place. When contacted, chief coach of the MP hockey academy refused to comment.

Humble background

The players who were killed in the accident, belonged to a humble background. While Abdul Hameed, father of Shahnawaz Khan, is an auto driver in Indore, Adarsh Hardua’s father Alok Ahrdua is unemployed in Itarsi. Sahi Choure’s father Vijay Choure is a farmer in Itarsi.