Man dies of electric shock on Rohini gym's treadmill

A 24-year-old man was electrocuted to death on a treadmill in a gym in northwest Delhi’s Rohini, police said on Thursday, after arresting the owner of the fitness centre.

- Karn Pratap Singh

The victim, Saksham Pruthi, was working out at the gym in Rohini’s Sector 15 around 7.15am on Tuesday, when he sat down on the treadmill and collapsed instantly, said police.

The gym owner, Anubhav Duggal, was arrested around on Wednesday from Rohini, said police, adding that a first information report (FIR) was registered under the Indian Penal Code’s sections 287 and 304A at the KN Katju Marg police station in Rohini. He was granted bail by a local court hours later.

A man who tried to help the victim also collapsed on the spot, said witnesses, but added that he came round soon after and was unhurt. Police said the victim might have touched an exposed metallic part of treadmill while sitting down on the equipment.

Members of the gym said they had made several complaints to the gym management about the faulty treadmill, claiming that several people suffered shocks over the past few weeks. However, all of these concerns went unheeded, they said.

“I was just a few steps away and tried to hold his hand and lift him up, but I was jolted and blacked out instantly,” said Keshav Narang, the prime witness in the case, on whose complaint the FIR was registered.

Around 10 people who were in the gym, called Gymplex Fitness Zone, then disconnected the power and tried to help Narang up.

Some even tried administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to revive him.