Tragedy Strikes Twice: A Shadow Over NDA's Hallowed Training Grounds

Another life, so young and full of promise, has been abruptly extinguished at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune. It’s a somber, truly heartbreaking echo, this latest incident, coming just weeks after another cadet’s untimely passing. The NDA, a revered institution, finds itself grappling with a profound sense of loss, and frankly, some deeply unsettling questions about safety.

This time, it was Cadet C. Preetham, just eighteen years old, hailing all the way from Karnataka. He was part of the 151st course, a member of the Alpha Squadron, and had been undergoing swimming training – a routine, yet fundamentally crucial, part of cadet life. It was at the academy’s Olympic-sized swimming pool where the tragedy unfolded. One moment, he was training, the next, a life-or-death emergency.

Reports indicate that Preetham was rushed, with what I can only imagine was frantic urgency, to the Command Hospital. But, alas, it was to no avail; he was declared dead upon arrival. The sheer suddenness of it all, the brutal finality, it just leaves you stunned, doesn't it? An accidental death case has been registered by the local police, which, well, it's procedure, but it doesn't really explain the why, does it?

And here’s the really chilling part: this isn't an isolated incident. Not by a long shot. This marks the second death within the NDA premises in a mere two weeks. Just imagine, two families receiving that call, the crushing news. The previous incident involved Cadet S. Dhingra, nineteen, who, sadly, collapsed during boxing training on October 10. While that case was attributed to a pre-existing heart condition, the proximity of these two tragedies can’t help but raise eyebrows, to make you wonder.

So, now, as expected, a court of inquiry has been promptly ordered. And rightly so. Because, honestly, when young men and women dedicate themselves to serving the nation, putting their trust in these institutions, the very least we can expect is that their safety is paramount. The NDA is a place where futures are forged, certainly, but it must also be a sanctuary, a safe space for growth. These recent events, they weigh heavily on the spirit of the academy, and indeed, on all who believe in the promise of its cadets.