2 die, 8 collapse during Maharashtra police recruitment drive

Two of those who had aspired to serve the state police died on Wednesday, and eight others fell unconscious during the recruitment drive conducted by the Maharashtra police on the service road at Eastern Express Highway, near Vikhroli. All the eight were rushed to Sion hospital where they were treated and discharged.

The whole affair was managed in a shoddy manner, police constable aspirants, who have come from across Maharashtra, have alleged. In spite of the two deaths (at Mumbai and Navi Mumbai), they were still being made to sit in the hot sun on the tar road with no basic facilities, some of them alleged.

These future policemen have been camping in Mumbai for the last three days, and the recruitment drive is being conducted across the state.

The two, Ambadas Sonawane and Prasad Mali, died during their physical test at service road in Vikhroli EEH, and Patni grounds in Navi Mumbai, respectively.

Yash Kale (25) from Bhusaval, who came to Mumbai three days ago to become a constable, said: "We are made to sit in the sun, and the physical test is conducted on tar road which heats up in the afternoon. We are asked to report to the venue at 6am, but are called for physical test only by 10am. Till then nothing to eat or drink is provided."

Another aspirant, Sachin Gopal Sonawane (26) from Jalgaon, said: "The test venue is next to the highway and there are no shops around. If we want to eat something, we have to walk at least 20 minutes to reach Vikhroli or Mulund station."

Sonawane said: "We are not from Mumbai. In the morning, we reach the venue after having tea and biscuits. We have to wait five hours for our turn (for physical test). Hence it's but natural that we become tired."
Some of the candidates also alleged that the drinking water provided to them stunk and was not consumable. And the few vendors who turned up at the venue charged Rs 30 for a bottle of water.

Endurance test
Day 1: 100-meter running, long jump, shot put, 20 pull ups.
Day 2: 5-km running.