Punjab Newsline | Sonipat
A tragic incident was reported at the Haryana Sports University in Rai, Sonipat, where a student allegedly drowned in the university swimming pool on Thursday night.
According to reports, the incident took place around 8:30 PM when 30-year-old Nishant Gautam was rushed to a nearby hospital after being pulled out of the pool. Doctors later declared him dead.
University authorities described the incident as an accident. However, the victim’s family, who reached the campus on Friday, alleged foul play and demanded a detailed probe into the matter.
Nishant Gautam, a resident of Palwal, was pursuing a PG Diploma in Cricket Coaching at the university. Family members said he knew swimming well, making the circumstances of his death suspicious. He is survived by his wife, who is three months pregnant, and their three-year-old son.
The incident also drew attention because Nishant’s maternal family belongs to Chirawata village, which is also associated with Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam. Reports suggested that Nishant shared extended family ties with the minister. However, media advisor Nitin Sharma clarified that there was no direct relation between the minister’s immediate family and the deceased.
The death created panic inside the university campus. Preliminary information revealed that the swimming pool had been reopened only on Tuesday. The pool, reportedly 18 feet deep, contained around 15 feet of water at the time of the incident.
Several questions are now being raised regarding safety arrangements, supervision, and possible negligence at the facility. The pool area has reportedly been sealed, while the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team is yet to arrive for investigation.
