'Race' for govt jobs in J'khand: 11 youths die in 9 days

ELEVEN youths have lost their lives while running for the recruitment drive and taking the physical tests for the excise constable post in Jharkhand since August 22, police said on Sunday.

- MUKESH RANJAN

According to the Jharkhand police, 1, 27,772 candidates participated untill August 30, of whom 78,023 candidates, including 21,582 women, were declared qualified.

The recruitment drive, which got underway on August 22, will conclude on September 3.

Doctors suspect that some candidates might have used stimulant drugs or energy drinks to enhance their performance, which could have led to suffocation or cardiac arrests.

Extreme heat and prolonged standing in line have also been cited as contributing factors to these incidents. Notably, the aspirants were made to run 10 km in the scorching heat, which proved fatal for them. More than 100 other candidates also fainted and were admitted to hospitals while running for the recruitment drive and taking the physical tests.