Hours after fitness test, home guard aspirant dies in hospital in Ganjam district

Berhampur: A 26-year-old home guard aspirant died after allegedly undertaking a fitness test at Chhatrapur in Ganjam district on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Sibaram Pradhan of Tulasipllai, police said.Pradhan was among the nearly 1,000 aspirants appearing for fitness tests for 135 home guard posts in the district. Sources said Pradhan felt unease after completing a 2 km run in 14 minutes in the morning at police reserve ground, Chhatrapur. He was rushed to the sub-divisional hospital and then referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, where he died during treatment, said Subhendu Patra, SP, Ganjam.The SP said according to his family, Pradhan was suffering from sickle cell disease and was under medication. “Some of the medicines were also found in his bag. He, however, did not disclose about his disease before appearing for the fitness test,” Patra said.