2 Gajapati men die during running test for home guard job

Berhampur: Two men died and six others had to be hospitalised during a physical test for the recruitment of home guards in Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district, on Thursday.

The deceased were identified as Sulant Mishal (24), a resident of Parisal village, and Deepak Padalu (27), a native of Narayanpur village. This is the fifth casualty in the state during physical tests for govt jobs in the past two months.

Police said Mishal, a final year Plus III student, had completed a 2-kilometre run within 10 minutes and qualified for the next round of selection. However, minutes after finishing the test, he complained of uneasiness. He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital (DHH), where doctors declared him dead. Mishal's father had died some years back. He was living with his mother, who works as a labourer.

"An autopsy was conducted, and the procedure was videographed in the presence of a magistrate. The cause of death will be known only after receiving the postmortem report," said Gajapati SP Jatindra Kumar Panda. Police suspect Mishal may have had some past ailments, which got aggravated during the running exercise.

Deepak, who had become unconscious after taking part in the running test, died at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur. Deepak and six other candidates who fell ill during the test were admitted to the DHH. Deepak was later shifted to Berhampur after his condition deteriorated in the afternoon. He died in the evening.

Though the exact cause of the death would be ascertained after postmortem, doctors suspected he died of heart attack. All those hospitalised complained of muscle cramps and body pain. Of the rest six, three were discharged and three were still in hospital.

Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh from the CM's Relief Fund to the next of kin of the deceased.

The recruitment test was part of a drive to fill 144 home guard posts in Gajapati. Over 1,700 candidates, including 300 women, participated in the physical test on Thursday. The female candidates ran in the first batch at 6.30 am, followed by male candidates in groups of 300.

"We had advised candidates not to take part in the test if they felt unwell. Advance notices had been issued on this matter," said SP Panda.

On March 5, two engineering graduates — Byomkesh Naik of Keonjhar and Prabin Kumar Panda of Sundargarh — died during a 25-kilometre walking test for forest department recruitment. Another home guard aspirant collapsed and died during a running test in Deogarh on March 27.

Berhampur: Two men died and six others had to be hospitalised during a physical test for the recruitment of home guards in Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district, on Thursday.

The deceased were identified as Sulant Mishal (24), a resident of Parisal village, and Deepak Padalu (27), a native of Narayanpur village. This is the fifth casualty in the state during physical tests for govt jobs in the past two months.

Police said Mishal, a final year Plus III student, had completed a 2-kilometre run within 10 minutes and qualified for the next round of selection. However, minutes after finishing the test, he complained of uneasiness. He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital (DHH), where doctors declared him dead. Mishal's father had died some years back. He was living with his mother, who works as a labourer.

"An autopsy was conducted, and the procedure was videographed in the presence of a magistrate. The cause of death will be known only after receiving the postmortem report," said Gajapati SP Jatindra Kumar Panda. Police suspect Mishal may have had some past ailments, which got aggravated during the running exercise.

Deepak, who had become unconscious after taking part in the running test, died at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur. Deepak and six other candidates who fell ill during the test were admitted to the DHH. Deepak was later shifted to Berhampur after his condition deteriorated in the afternoon. He died in the evening.

Though the exact cause of the death would be ascertained after postmortem, doctors suspected he died of heart attack. All those hospitalised complained of muscle cramps and body pain. Of the rest six, three were discharged and three were still in hospital.

Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh from the CM's Relief Fund to the next of kin of the deceased.

The recruitment test was part of a drive to fill 144 home guard posts in Gajapati. Over 1,700 candidates, including 300 women, participated in the physical test on Thursday. The female candidates ran in the first batch at 6.30 am, followed by male candidates in groups of 300.

"We had advised candidates not to take part in the test if they felt unwell. Advance notices had been issued on this matter," said SP Panda.

On March 5, two engineering graduates — Byomkesh Naik of Keonjhar and Prabin Kumar Panda of Sundargarh — died during a 25-kilometre walking test for forest department recruitment. Another home guard aspirant collapsed and died during a running test in Deogarh on March 27.