Causes of Deaths & Injuries During Military Training : Awareness ,Prevention & Accountability - Col Vinay B Dalvi

Introduction

Ever since I was personally entrusted with the training of young cadets in military academies like IMA, NDA & OTA for 9 years I took special care for their physical well-being with full accountability and responsibility of the entire staff at my disposal besides personal interaction and involvement with their parent sqn / coy commanders.

Hence, even after 20 years of association, whenever I see an injured cadet at MH Kirkee or CH SC, my mind vividly goes back to the grim reality of the training environment. Every time I learn of a tragic death of a cadet some part of me dies with that cadet! The present serving fraternity needs to similarly take care and genuinely feel for these cadets entrusted to their charge with full onus and responsibility for their lives and well-being.

Death and serious injuries have been occurring during the military training sessions/ curriculum of cadets, recruits and combatants from time immemorial! While most deaths and injuries are attributed or aggravated as due to the exigencies of military service, the nature of our military training and intricate risks involved there is an imperative need for better awareness and understanding of actual causes for these deaths and injuries many of which could have been minimised or avoided. The main reason why I decided to pen down this piece is due to the repetitive nature of the causes of these deaths and serious injuries that have been regularly taking place especially in our military training academies, training institutions and recruit training centres. The focus of the article is on training-related deaths and injuries of cadets and recruits and related issues.

The training activities that have resulted in deaths and serious injuries:

1. Boxing has resulted in numerous deaths and causes for the same have been identified and well documented. To name a few :

(a) Lack of knowledge of rules and regulations of this sport of boxing has led to a weaker and defenceless boxer being punished against the rules of boxing, especially with head blows and the referee not stopping the bout in time for the mandatory count or terminating the bout in favour of the much stronger boxer. Recent deaths of cadets at OTA, Chennai and NDA that were in the news come to mind.

( b) Making a boxer with previous head injuries/neurological or other medical issues fight/ participate in competitive bouts of inter-company or inter-Squadron championships. There was the case of an NDA boxer with neurological medical issues who despite medical advice fought in the inter-company bouts at IMA and consequently died.

2. Swimming Training of cadets at academies has resulted in deaths and serious injuries to many. A few known cases are :

(a) forcing weak/non swimmers to jump from high diving boards especially from 5,7 and 10 mtr boards without adequate safety backup and care.Around 1999 there was a case in NDA where a non qualified Naval officer Instructor forced a weak cadet to swim till he was so exhausted that he drowned and died !

(b) In 1993 there was the famous case of GC Karmarkar drowning case in IMA due to reasons of negligence of care for weak swimmers and dirty water resulting in inability to find cadet / body in deep end where he went down. There was a similar death in OTA Chennai during 1994/95 when a cadet died in the unclean water of the swimming pool making it difficult to trace the cadet / body .

Hence,the need not to conduct swimming training especially of weak and non swimmers in deep water especially when the water is dirty and floor cannot be seen .

(c) Need to avoid diving and jumping in shallow end or when water level is not full . A case of an NDA cadet who dived into the shallow end of a pool with less water level resulting in serious head injury and his being paralysed for life comes to mind .

Obstacle Training ,especially during timed competition have resulted in serious injuries.

(a) The case of IMA , 1995 of GC Gulia comes to mind when during inter company obstacle competition he sustained a very serious injury due to rush of GCs to reduce time . There is need to have a safety interval between batches of 4 depending on the number of available obstacles like balances, ropes,etc .

(b) BPET 9 feet Ditch jump test has resulted in many serious/ crippling knees injuries to cadets at NDA and IMA for past many decades . There is an imperative need for safety in conduct of training for this event and also during conduct of tests . Cement flooring edges at take off and landing end has resulted in most of the injuries. There is need to train gradually for this test especially with battle order and weapon .The edges of take off end landing end of 9 ft ditch must not be cemented / hard and should have soft/ non slippery landing mats . Extra care must be taken during monsoon and winter months due to wet conditions on ground or when dew forms during night , making ground wet for both take off and landing slippery .

(c) The Ropes ,Beams and Balances have resulted in some accidents due to various reasons . Hence,safety must be ensured to cater for wear and tear of ropes especially at top end of gallows and slippery Balances and Beams especially during wet conditions . Instructors need to cater for all types of contingencies / situations to prevent/ minimize injuries.

(d) Ground exercises/ tests like dive rolls ,cart wheels and hand springs need special safety, care and back up under qualified/ experienced PT instructors. These must not be done under senior immature / unqualified cadets . Officer instructors are mostly to blame for injuries in these activities as they neglected the safety and care of cadets entrusted to their charge .

(e) Vaulting Horse has been the cause for several injuries of cadets especially at NDA,IMA and OTA where there are mandatory tests for all cadets . There is imperative need to train and perform on this apparatus under watchful care and guidance of the PT instructor. Gradual progressive training is the key to minimise injuries.

Unofficial Training schedules, whether structured or non structured without guidance and safety of qualified instructors have caused immense harm and maximum injuries, many times more than the official training schedules of academies ,especially in NDA . Several recent MVI articles and debates have publicised this beyond any doubt . This must cease forthwith ! 700 medically boarded out cadets in the on going supreme court suo motu case has thrown much light on this aspect but is only the tip of the visible iceberg. A lot of hidden truth lies below the tip of this iceberg and about which much has been written and publicised for past 20 years !

The Need for overrralll scientific approach to training.

A few years back at behest of DGAFMS at the United Commanders Conference chaired by RM a decision was taken to make the PT schedule for cadets ,recruits and combatants more scientific by introduction of knowledge and application of sports / fitness medicine in the traing academies and recruit centres . Unfortunately, not much has been done or achieved towards implementing this wise decision. Quite recently at NDA an NDA Comdt introduced physical training / education subjects for theory and written tests with a view to promote scientific training methodology. It was a great success, however, with the change in command this was discontinued resulting in status quo of ' ignorance' of this subject. .

Need for PT with Medical Guidance / care.

During tenure of Air Mshl KS Gill as Comdt NDA and Air Keshav Rao as Comdt AFMC there was close association and coordination between NDA& AFMC on PT training with sports medicine aspect at the NDA .Injuries and medical cases reduced drastically due to this cooperation .Col IVS Gahlot was CO ,MH Khadakwasla in that period . During a presentation in AFMC Comdt's office to Lt Gen Salgotra ,DCIDS Medical, IDS HQ by Col Gahlot in my( author's) presence , Gen Salgotra was briefed thoroughly about the issues related to NDA training methodology resulting in high rate of injuries .It was a period when AFMC was in process of setting up their their sports medicine wing for incorporation of sports medicine for recruits and cadets in letter and spirit as per the UCC Conference directions by RM himself in presence of three chiefs! During the conclusion of the briefing to Gen Salgotra by Col Gahlot and myself( with NDA PTO's experience of 4yrs ) and research and continuous study, General Salgotra summed up the NDA unofficial training with the words " Sab ke Sab Pagal Hai !" He promised to brief the CISC but nothing seemed to have happened even after that meeting.

This was 10 years back ! A lot of water has since flowed down rivers Mula & Mutha but no major change/s seem to have taken place at NDA . The recent suicide case and grounding/ withdrawal of 3-4 air force cadets only highlights the grim reality . As Gen Salgotra said " they are all mad !"- To conclude there needs to be some method to this NDA madness as enough damage has been done to many cadets ,more through unofficial and non structured training that official scheduled training . Besides, the medically boarded out cadets there are many more that have been withdrawn or resigned due to the very same unofficial and non structured training at NDA .

Injuries due to Drill, Riding & Cross Country

Injuries,especially stress fractures ,due to effects of Drill training ( under Adjt/ Drill sec ) and falls during Riding ( under Equestrian Officer) have also been taking place regularly and the causes for these need to be addressed to minimise their number .

Cross Country event ,although conducted under the PTO/ PTT is a prestigious event for inter company/ sqn champions. At NDA there is a fierce madness / competition for winning the Glider . Whilst there is nothing wrong with promoting fierce competition what is the saddest and most unfortunate part is the wrong ,faulty and ill conceived training policies/ methodology of most squadrons that not only deny / deprive timely meals to cadets but also train wrongly against all principles of training leading to maximum injuries and medical cases .The CO MH Khadakwasla for any period of NDA history can vouch for this glaring madness that causes more harm than good to cadets . Infact ,it causes great harm to the entire training curriculum at NDA including academics! Need I say more ?The NDA hierarchy needs to seriously review the importance of inter Squadron Cross Country and possibly reduce it to an individual event for a few years and see the benefits to entire training curriculum.

I earnestly hope this article helps enhance awareness on several aspects of PT ,allied subjects including Drill ,Riding and Cross Country that can surely reduce injuries of cadets not only in NDA but IMA and OTA too .

Last Word                   

NDA ,infact all academies exist and survive due to the cadets that they are meant to train . All the employees of the academies are paid by the GoI / MoD / FM for imparting quality training to the cadets entrusted to their charge. 

Are these employees doing their job in full earnestness and sincerity failing which they could lose their job/ s ? I don't think so ! Some of the roads in NDA have boards that read " cadets have right of way !" Do they really ? Why this big facade ! The day everyone in the military academies,especially NDA realise the importance of the cadet and the consequences on the quality of our national military leadership that day things will change for the better over night ! Let everyone in the military academies realise this onerous responsibility that is imposed on them . The sooner the better ! Victory India 🇮🇳

Comments & Recommendations

Dr Pashupathi Nath:

The article courageously exposes the hard-hitting reality of deaths and serious injuries occurring during military training at our so-called “prestigious” academies. For decades, institutions like the NDA, IMA, and OTA have been considered the cradle of leadership, yet behind their glory lies a disturbing pattern of preventable tragedies. It is high time that this *bitter truth* is acknowledged openly, not suppressed in the name of tradition or pride. The article underscores a glaring need for a total revamp of training methodology, based on scientific principles and medical supervision rather than outdated notions of toughness and endurance.

The first step must be the constitution of a high-powered committee comprising of selected credible veterans, physical training experts and sports medicine specialists. Such a committee should review the existing training systems threadbare, identify risk-prone practices, and recommend reforms that balance discipline with safety. The military has always prided itself on learning from past mistakes yet when it comes to training-related deaths, lessons seem forgotten year after year. Only an independent, transparent, and professionally empowered body can break this cycle.

The article also raises a profound ethical question. In the armed forces, even when an animal under military service suffers injury or dies, a court of inquiry is invariably convened and responsibility is fixed. Why then, when a human cadet or recruit dies in training, is accountability so conveniently evaded? The double standard is both shocking and indefensible. The absence of inquiry or punishment in such cases reflects institutional apathy and an erosion of moral responsibility toward our young trainees, the very future of the armed forces.

When a senior officer is quoted saying, “Sab ke sab pagal hai,” it is not just an offhand remark but a grave indictment of the system itself. It shows that even those in high command are aware of the rot within the training culture yet few dare to confront it. The acknowledgment of chaos without the courage to reform it only perpetuates the problem. It is symptomatic of a mindset that prefers silence and status quo over introspection and accountability.

Indeed, it may now be high time for senior heads to roll. Institutional change rarely happens without responsibility being fixed at the top. As long as the leadership continues to treat deaths and injuries as unavoidable “training hazards,” nothing will change. The culture of glorifying suffering must give way to one of professional competence and care. Every training-related death must be treated as an act of criminal negligence, investigated thoroughly, and punished accordingly.

The article should be a wake-up call for all stakeholders viz. the aspiring youth who dream of serving the nation, the proud and hopeful parents who entrust their children to military institutions, the hierarchy of the Defence Ministry and the Government itself. If we truly honour and value the lives of those who volunteer to defend the nation, we must ensure that their training equips them for the rigours of war and not consign them to an early grave during peacetime. Reform is not merely desirable; it is an urgent moral and institutional obligation.

Lt Gen Vijay Ahluwalia, former Army Cdr CC,DGMT, Member AFT & Director CLAWS

Col Vinay Dalvi has put down a few valid and relevant thoughts in this paper . With his extensive experience in training establishments he has covered many important points, pertaining to boxing, swimming, obstacle course, vaulting etc, about the risks involved and remedial measures in military training. I agree that training is essential for preparing officer cadets and soldiers, but it also comes with certain risks that we must manage carefully.

Let me share a personal story to highlight these risks. With some humility, despite doing extremely well in NDA, I faced a serious injury during a training exercise at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun. It happened while we were doing BPET. Because I had already completed the course successfully twice earlier, based on PT Ustad’s command, I was the first to start on that cold winter morning at 6 am. Unfortunately, a lot of dew had gathered overnight on the plank I was using to jump, making the surface slippery. I did not know that. Having gained good speed, I slipped badly and crashed into a concrete wall with a loud impact.

It was a harsh lesson. The training on the BPET was suspended and only restarted weeks later, once safety measures like mats / rugs and soft sand around the concrete wall were put in place. Looking back, I realise that proper precautions should have been taken from the very start to prevent such an injury. My injury was too severe—my knee cap ( patella) was shattered into several pieces and knee joint also impacted, requiring evacuation to Lucknow and multiple surgeries. I was even initially declared unfit for military service, a devastating blow at the time. IMA officials did realise that it was not my fault at all.

Although some of the points being mentioned by me may already be put in place, they may act as a reminder. The safety of the trainees must always come first. Preventing injuries in training is not just about luck; it requires careful planning—thorough risk assessments, vigilant supervision, and regular updates to safety protocols. Our officer cadets and soldiers’ well-being depends on our commitment to continuous safety improvements. Military training is vital, but safeguarding lives is an even greater priority.

To ensure personnel safety and conduct effective training, a flexible and coordinated approach is perhaps the way forward. This involves setting clear safety rules, conducting risk assessments of various exercises and equipment / training aids, and taking actions to mitigate them ( like placing rugs and mats on the take off plank was done after the injury. It should have been thought through earlier.). Skilled instructors, with focus on training on safety aspects also, and vigilant supervision help keep activities safe, while regular checks of equipment and facilities ensure everything is in top condition.

Training should progress gradually, building skills step-by-step and only increasing difficulty when trainees are ready. Wherever required and feasible, simulations and virtual tools may also be used to allows practice of high risk exercises, to build confidence. Monitoring health and fitness condition before and during training prevents injuries. Incidents / investigations must be reviewed objectively, and with meticulous care, to identify causes and improve safety measures continuously. Simultaneously accountability should be established. Some of these measures would help in minimising injuries and deaths during training.