First-term NDA cadet dies after medical emergency during PT; Court of Inquiry ordered
Pune, July 10
A first-term cadet of the National Defence Academy, 17-year-old Cadet Abhinav Bajpai from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, died after suffering a medical emergency during a routine physical training session at the Academy on Friday morning, a statement from the Ministry of Defence read.
Cadet Bajpai had joined the NDA on June 24, 2026. According to the Academy, he complained of uneasiness and suddenly lost consciousness during the routine morning physical training session, which was the first official PT parade after joining the Academy.
He was immediately evacuated to the Military Hospital, Khadakwasla, where the medical team carried out intensive resuscitative efforts. However, as per the MoD, despite their efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead.
A Court of Inquiry (CoI) has been mandated to determine the facts and circumstances that led to the incident, according to the MoD statement that cited the NDA.
The Academy said the next of kin of the deceased cadet and the police have been informed.
The National Defence Academy expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult time.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Heartbreaking news. As a mother, I can only imagine the pain of losing a child who had such bright dreams of serving the nation. However, I do hope the investigation looks at whether the PT intensity was appropriate for first-term cadets who had just joined 16 days ago. The heat and humidity in Pune this time of year can be brutal. Perhaps staggered physical conditioning is needed to prevent such tragedies.
Salute to Cadet Abhinav Bajpai. He died pursuing his dream of serving the nation, and that takes a different kind of courage, even if it was a medical tragedy. I hope the MoD releases a transparent report from the Court of Inquiry. Also, let's not jump to blame the Academy—sometimes these things happen due to undiagnosed conditions. But yes, better medical screening on entry could help. Om Shanti. 🇮🇳
This is truly sad. A 17-year-old with his whole life ahead. I'm from the UK and came across this story—it seems like a similar issue happens in military academies worldwide. Sometimes rigorous PT exposes underlying health issues. My thoughts are with the family and his fellow cadets. I hope the inquiry leads to better pre-screening protocols.
Very sad news. But I think we need to be careful about blaming the NDA system outright. Abhinav Bajpai from Kanpur—just like thousands of other young Indians who dream of wearing the uniform. Sometimes these incidents are unavoidable. That said, the Court of Inquiry should also look into whether any warning signs appeared during the first two weeks of training. A 17-year-old should not be pushing beyond safe limits without adequate hydration breaks and medical monitoring.
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