J’khand recruitment test deaths trigger political slugfest | Ranchi News – Times of India

RANCHI: The drive is scheduled to run till Sept 4, with a board headed by an IPS officer conducting physical tests at each centre.
IGP (operations) Amol Homkar said four candidates died in Palamu, two deaths each were reported in Giridih and Hazaribag, and one each at Jharkhand Jaguar, CTC Musabani and Sahibganj centres. Homkar said Jharkhand Staff Selection Committee, which is overseeing the recruitment tests, had taken all possible steps to ensure that aspirants received medical assistance whenever required.
“The candidates are being provided drinking water and packets of ORS. Physical tests are scheduled early so that the applicants do not have to toil in the hottest part of the day. Medical camps, adequate medicines, ambulances, stretchers, beds and mobile toilets are available at all the centres,” he said.
Official sources said at Smart City centre in Ranchi, drinking water points are available every 500 metres. The route for endurance runs has CCTV surveillance and police personnel deployed at various locations so that the candidates facing health problems can be given treatment immediately. “Several candidates have had trouble breathing after the run. They have all received oxygen,” an official said.
Vikas Linda, who died during physical test in Sahibganj Sunday, was a resident of Rampur village in Ranchi. His uncle Turia Linda said, “The authorities said Vikas was taken to hospital but he died. He was normal till last night.”
In Palamu, police registered two cases of unnatural deaths under Section 194 of the BNS in connection with fatalities during physical tests. “Some of the candidates who fell sick displayed symptoms of aggressiveness, one of the signs of steroid intake,” an official said.
Riya Ghosh (19) from Purulia district of Bengal was admitted to MMCH, Daltonganj, after she lost consciousness while taking part in the test at Chiyanki. In Hazaribag, officials said 310 aspirants fainted during the tests. “The candidates were unprepared for such a high-endurance run,” a doctor said.
Opposition BJP accused JMM-led govt of “pushing job-seekers to death” and demanded compensation and govt job each to families of the victims. JMM’s central spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharjee said recruitment drive was conducted in accordance with manual prepared by erstwhile BJP govt in state.
(With inputs from M F Ahmad & Abhijit Sen)