Gajapati, May 29: A tragic incident unfolded during the Home Guard recruitment physical test in Paralakhemundi of Gajapati district, where one candidate lost his life and seven others were hospitalized due to extreme exhaustion and health complications.

The deceased has been identified as Sulant Mishal, a resident of Parisal village near Ramgiri police station.

The physical test, which included a 2-kilometer running assessment between Ranipentha and Padmapur, took place on Thursday morning.

Witnesses reported that Sulant collapsed just 30 seconds before completing the test. He was immediately rushed to the Paralakhemundi District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Seven Others in Critical Condition

Alongside Sulant, seven other candidates also collapsed during the test and were swiftly transported to the district hospital for emergency treatment. Their condition remains serious, and medical personnel are closely monitoring their recovery.

The injured candidates include: P. Babuji (Paralakhemundi), Orphan Pani (Gumma), Sanjay Sabar (Gosani), Balakrishna Limma (Kashinagar), Deepak Padal (Narayanpur), Shiv Prasad Mohapatra (Gurandi) and two others whose identities are yet to be confirmed.

Government Response & Investigation

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia assistance for the deceased’s family from the CM Relief Fund.

Meanwhile, local police and administrative officials have launched an investigation to determine whether extreme weather, dehydration, inadequate medical support, or pre-existing health conditions contributed to the tragedy.

This unfortunate event has raised concerns about safety protocols during recruitment drives, particularly those involving physically demanding tests. Authorities are expected to release a detailed report following the investigation.

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