One die, 3 athletes critically injured after suicide attempt at hostel in southern India

In a tragic incident, one Indian athlete died Thursday while three others were in a critical condition after four of them attempted suicide at a state-run sports hostel in the southern state of Kerala late on Wednesday night. "The four girls consumed poisonous fruit after being allegedly harassed by their trainer. They were found by other hostel inmates and were rushed to a nearby hospital in state capital Thiruvananthapuram. One of them died this morning while others are battling for their lives," a senior police official said.

Preliminary probe has revealed that all the four athletes took the extreme step as they were unable to bear the humiliation by their coach, he said on condition of anonymity.

Angry relatives blocked the national highway in the state, alleging mental and physical torture by their coach, and demanded that those responsible be arrested immediately.

They were, however, pacified by senior sports and police officials to disperse.

Sports Authority of India's chief Injeti Srinivas has termed it as "the most tragic and shocking incident in three-decade long existence of the sports body."

"We have been following up with state authorities and sports officials, and the priority is to save their lives," he told the media. Endi