Nagpur: In a tragic turn of events, a forest guard aspirant, Sachin Lambat (29), hailing from Wani in Yavatmal district, lost his life due to suspected cardiac arrest and kidney failure during a 5km running test conducted by the Forest Department at MIHAN, Nagpur. Another participant in the same batch, Chaitanya Uikey (26), suffered a fracture and is currently receiving medical treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
The incident unfolded on Monday morning as the physical test was being re-conducted for select batches, which had faced technical issues on February 21 and 22, leading to the cancellation of their tests. The re-conducted test aimed to provide a fair opportunity to those affected by the earlier disruptions.
According to A Sreelakshmi, Conservator of Forest (CF), Nagpur Circle, Sachin collapsed moments before reaching the finish line, succumbing to what is suspected to be a cardiac arrest and kidney failure. Simultaneously, Chaitanya fell 100 meters shy of the finish line, sustaining a fracture. Both individuals were promptly shifted to AIIMS for immediate medical attention.
The Forest Department revealed that Sachin and Chaitanya had faced disqualification during the initial test on February 21 and 22 for slow running, with Sachin completing the 5km run in 33 minutes. Due to technical reasons and ensuing confusion among candidates, the decision was made to re-conduct the test on March 4.
During the second attempt, Sachin exhibited determination to complete the 5km run within 18 minutes, a stark contrast to his earlier performance. He reached the halfway mark in an impressive 9 minutes. However, tragedy struck when he collapsed near the finish line. The attention initially focused on Chaitanya, who was groaning in pain due to a fracture. Both individuals were expeditiously transferred to AIIMS within 10 minutes after receiving on-the-spot medical examination.
Deputy Conservator of Forest (DyCF) Bharat Singh Hada expressed the department’s deep regret over the unfortunate incident. Investigations are underway to ascertain the exact cause of Sachin’s demise. The Forest Department is expected to review its recruitment procedures and safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future, emphasizing the importance of participant well-being during physical tests. The forest guard recruitment drive has been temporarily halted pending a thorough inquiry into the incident.
AIIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Manish Shrigiriwar said, “After performing post-mortem, we collected histopathology samples of the patient and sent them to the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Rahate Colony in Nagpur. Once the reports come in, the exact cause of death will be known.”
Sachin hailed from a poor economic background. His parents and younger brother work as labourers.
