THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, August 30: The ongoing recruitment process for excise constables in Daltonganj has taken a tragic turn, with two candidates succumbing during the physical efficiency test.
The first death occurred on August 29, claiming the life of Amresh Kumar, a 27-year-old from Gaya district in Bihar. The second fatality followed today on August 30, when Pradeep Kumar, a 28-year-old from Godda district in Jharkhand, passed away.
Dr. R. K. Ranjan of MMCH Daltonganj confirmed the deaths, stating that both candidates died while receiving treatment at the hospital. He emphasized that neither candidate was brought dead; rather, their deaths occurred during ongoing medical care.
Concerns over potential use of steroids
When questioned about the possibility of candidates using performance-enhancing anabolic steroids, Dr. Ranjan acknowledged the potential, noting, “There is a fair scope of it. The behaviour of other sick and surviving candidates is very abnormal.”
Dr. Ranjan further explained that sick and unconscious candidates have been arriving at MMCH Daltonganj in large numbers, with around 20 sick candidates admitted on August 30 alone.
“Sick and unconscious candidates are coming over to the MMCH Daltonganj at regular intervals. Alone today there came around 20 sick candidates,” he said.
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He described how some candidates, upon recovering from a comatose state, became aggressive and even posed a threat to medical staff.
To manage the situation, police have been deployed at the hospital to contain aggressive candidates. One particularly violent individual had to be restrained by police officers for his own safety, as he was obstructing medical treatment and threatening nurses and doctors.
The candidate grew so aggressive that with the help of the cops he was pinned down with hands tied on the back and his legs were also tied down all in his medical interest.
Lack of facilities to detect steroid use
Dr. Ranjan highlighted a significant challenge that MMCH Daltonganj lacks the facilities to test for anabolic steroid use, making it difficult to confirm whether the candidates were under the influence of such substances.
Deputy Commissioner Shashi Ranjan has taken serious note of the health issues faced by the candidates and has directed MMCH officials to do everything possible to save the lives of those who fall ill during the recruitment process.
Recruitment process and challenges
The physical efficiency test, overseen by SP Palamu and recruitment camp chairperson Reeshma Ramesan, requires male candidates to complete a 10-kilometer run in one hour, while female candidates must finish a 5-kilometer run in 40 minutes.
Ramesan declined to comment on the suspected use of anabolic steroids, stating, “I am not the right person to hazard any such guess. It’s up to the medical fraternity to ascertain it.”
She noted that while the recruitment camp is set to process 6,000 candidates per day, only about 50% of them are actually showing up for the test. Absenteeism has been a significant issue, with 50% of candidates failing to appear.
To mitigate the stress on candidates, the camp provides drinking water and two packets of oral rehydration solution to each participant. The recruitment drive, which began on August 27, is scheduled to conclude on September 9.
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Consideration for additional medical support
Given the alarming behaviour and aggression displayed by some candidates, there are calls to involve nearby Ayushman-empanelled private hospitals to assist with medical emergencies.
This could potentially reduce the time it takes to transport sick candidates from the Chiyanki airstrip recruitment camp to MMCH Daltonganj, easing the burden on the hospital and its staff.
Sources said there are a few empanelled Ayushman private hospitals between MMCH and Chiyanki air strip recruitment camp whose services may also be obtained for them as their arrival at the MMCH Daltonganj and the way they are showing their aggression has instilled fear among the doctors, nurses and patients too as one candidate in sheer range after pulling out his own hospital bed and mattress was aiming at other patient’s bed and mattress whose saline dip was on.
