IMA Cadet Dies During Training Exercise in Dehradun
A tragic incident occurred at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun when a cadet lost his life during a scheduled swimming exercise on Wednesday evening. The cadet, identified as S. Balu, aged 33, hailed from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was undergoing training at the IMA through the Army Cadet College (ACC) entry, which is a route for serving personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force to become commissioned officers.
According to police sources, Balu was found unconscious in the academy's swimming pool during a practice session. Despite being quickly extracted from the water and transported to a hospital, he was declared dead upon arrival. Following the incident, IMA authorities informed the police, leading to the registration of a case at the Dehradun Cantonment Police Station based on the academy's complaint. A post-mortem examination was conducted on Thursday, after which Balu's body was returned to IMA officials.
The IMA has initiated an internal investigation to determine the events leading to the incident. Concurrently, police officials have stated that the exact cause of death will only be established once the post-mortem report is available.
Incidents like these have occurred previously at IMA, given its rigorous training programs. In 2017, two Gentleman Cadets tragically collapsed and died during a 10 km endurance run. In another incident in 2019, a cadet lost his life after falling into a gorge during a night navigation exercise.
Established in 1932, the IMA is celebrated as a cornerstone of leadership development for the Indian Army, with hundreds of cadets graduating each year to serve as Lieutenants. The ACC entry program, under which Cadet Balu was training, offers serving soldiers an opportunity to advance their careers by earning a commission.
