Pune, 10th July 2026: A 17-year-old first-term cadet of the National Defence Academy (NDA) died after suffering a medical emergency during a routine physical training (PT) session at the academy in Pune on Friday morning.
The deceased, Abhinav Bajpai, a resident of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, had joined the NDA on June 24 as part of the latest batch of cadets.
According to the Defence Public Relations Office (PRO), Bajpai complained of uneasiness during the academy's routine morning physical training, which was the first official PT parade after joining the NDA. He suddenly lost consciousness during the exercise.
He was immediately shifted to the Military Hospital at Khadakwasla, where doctors carried out intensive resuscitation efforts. Despite receiving medical treatment, he could not be revived and was declared dead.
The Defence authorities have ordered a Court of Inquiry to determine the exact circumstances that led to the cadet's death. His family has been informed about the incident, and the police have also been notified.
In a statement, the National Defence Academy expressed its condolences to Bajpai's family and said it stands with them during this difficult time.
This is the third cadet death at the NDA since October last year.
In the fourth week of October 2025, a first-term cadet lost his life during a swimming practice session at the academy. Just two weeks earlier, another 18-year-old first-term cadet had died in an alleged suicide case.