17-Year-Old Volleyball Player Pratyush Rai Found Dead in Prayagraj Hostel

Prayagraj, February 10, 2026: A shocking incident has left the sports community in Prayagraj reeling, as 17-year-old volleyball player Pratyush Rai was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his hostel room. Pratyush, a resident of Ghazipur, had been training at the Amitabh Bachchan Sports Complex for the past four years.

On Tuesday morning, Pratyush was discovered lying on the floor of his hostel room. He was immediately taken to Bailey Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The news of his sudden death sent shockwaves through his family, who rushed from Ghazipur to Prayagraj.

A Promising Athlete
Pratyush was regarded as a talented player and was well-liked by his coach and teammates. On the morning of the incident, around 5 a.m., some junior players went to wake him up and found him lying on the floor.

The previous night, Pratyush had dinner with fellow players at the hostel mess around 9 p.m. and then retired to his room. His roommate Rishabh had been away in his village, leaving Pratyush alone in the room.

Police Investigation Underway
Upon receiving the report, officers from Karnalganj Police Station arrived at the scene and took the body into custody. It has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Station In-Charge Sanjay Singh stated that the exact cause of death is not yet clear, and the findings of the post-mortem report will provide further clarity.