Jamshedpur: One candidate aspiring to be recruited in the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) died while six others fainted during the ongoing physical capability test at JAP 6 ground in Sidhgora on Wednesday.
The deceased, Raj Kumar Sao, 28, was a resident of Bokaro. Those who fainted during the physical test included Chandan Munda from Lohardagga, Mithun Singh from New Delhi, Satyajeet Nirala from Bhagalpur and Rahul Upadhyaya from Birsanagar.
Their condition was reportedly serious. Chandan, Mithun and Satyajeet were taken to MGM Hospital while Rahul was referred to Tata Main Hospital due to his worse condition.
Sources said the condition of Raj Kumar Sao, a native of Ghatiyali in Bokaro, and other worsened around 10 am. According to Sandeep Kumar Sao, a cousin of the deceased, �Raj was critically sick when admitted to MGM Hospital. There was no senior doctor on duty. Junior doctors saw him, but before they could do anything, my brother died.�
Sources claimed the candidates had fainted due to dehydration and breathlessness caused by extreme hardship. The candidates are being tested for their physical fitness from 6 am till 11 am at the JAP 6 ground for the last one week, they said.
Dr SN Jha, superintendent of MGM Hospital, said the five candidates who had fainted before being admitted suffered from dehydration and that the condition of three of them was improving.
Prabhat Kumar, chairman, IRB Selection Council, �Adequate arrangements have been made at the recruitment venue. From 5.15 am, the physical test begins with running and other tests. There are 2000 candidates. Each day, 200 of them are being tested. Raj Kumar Sao was one of them. He was immediately taken to MGM Hospital after he fainted.�