Paralakhemundi: Two candidates died and five others were hospitalised after falling ill during a physical test for Home Guard recruitment at Paralakhemundi in Odisha’s Gajapati district on Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Sulanta Misal (27) of Parisal village and Dipak Padal (29) of Narayanpur in Gajapati.
According to sources, Mishal collapsed just 30 seconds before completing the test on a 2-kilometre stretch between Ranipenth and Padmapur. He was immediately rushed to the district headquarters hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival, sources said.
The candidates were required to complete the 2-km run within 10 minutes to qualify for the 144 posts in Gajapati district for which around 1,200 candidates, including women, had applied.
Four among those who fell unconscious during the test were discharged after treatment and two, including Padal, were kept under observation. Padal’s condition worsened in the afternoon and he was shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur. However, he died during treatment.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief over the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the bereaved families.
The government has also ordered a probe into the incident, and further recruitment tests have been temporarily suspended.
