The Sports Ministry swung into action by ordering an inquiry and directing SAI Director General Injeti Srinivas to rush to Kerala for an on the spot assessment.
20:23 IST Thursday, 7 May 2015
The sports fraternity, particularly boxer Mary Kom and shuttler Saina Nehwal, have expressed shock over the incident.
17:05 IST Thursday, 7 May 2015
The three surviving athletes who attempt suicide have been put on pacemakers, according to a report in PTI.
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Consuming a poisonous fruit, four school girls undergoing training at the Water Sports Centre of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday evening allegedly attempted suicide, prompting a rattled Sports Ministry to launch an inquiry and promise the strictest possible action against any SAI official found guilty.
One of the athletes, a 16-year-old died early on Thursday, while three others were hospitalised after they ate a poisonous fruit in an apparent suicide pact following alleged harassment by seniors.
The students attempted suicide at 3:00 pm on Wednesday by consuming the fruit of an ‘othalanga’ (Cerbera odollam) tree. They were rushed to a hospital around 7 pm after they fainted and later taken to Alapuzha Medical College, where one of them died.
The Sports Ministry swung into action by ordering an inquiry and directing SAI Director General Injeti Srinivas to rush to Kerala for an on the spot assessment.
"I am deeply aggrieved by the incident that has happened in Kerala. The young girl who has died was a very promising sportsperson. It is a big loss to the country in general and Sports Authority of India and sports fraternity in particular.
I convey my condolences to the bereaved family. We will give all possible help to the bereaved family," Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said in a statement.
SAI Director General Injeti Srinivas said,"This is the most tragic and shocking incident in three decade long existence of SAI. We have been following up with State authorities and SAI officials. Priority is to save their lives."
Srinivas further added, "We have tried to ensure that they (girls) are getting best medical attention. Sub-divisional magistrate has taken deposition of one girl, who is able to speak. A jointly signed suicide note was left, which will have to be investigated."
Quoting Alappuzha North sub-inspector MK Ramesan, the Hindu said, "The students took the extreme step as they were unable to bear the humiliation after being reprimanded by their teachers. The students were scolded after being found to be in an inebriated condition."
The local police have registered a case and have launched an inquiry into the incident. Relatives of the athletes alleged that the girls were being physically and mentally tortured by some seniors.
However, the hostel warden denied the charges and said they came to know about the condition of the girls only when they fainted. "None in the hostel tortured them", she said.
(with inputs)
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