Aspiring constable dies during physical test

Bangalore, Jun 24: A 21-year-old aspiring police constable died while participating in a 1,600-metre run during a recruitment drive here on Monday morning. He is suspected to have suffered a heart attack

Chandrashekar Anandappa, a resident of Attibele and B.Com final student, was among the 140 short-listed applicants participating in physical tests for recruitment of constables by Bangalore Rural police

Grandson of an Army subedar, Chandrashekar dreamt of joining a uniformed force. He believed he was on the cusp of realizing his dream as he had been shortlisted from among the 280 candidates who had turned up at the venue in the morning. In all, 500 youths had applied for 160 posts.

The run, at the KSRP grounds, was the first of the endurance tests for the day. Expected to cover 1,600 metres in 6 minutes and 30 seconds, Chandrashekar collapsed after running about 1,200 metres. "Chandrashekar had finished three laps and was doing the final lap. Third in the batch, he suddenly collapsed holding his chest," other participants said.

"The organizers rushed to Chandrashekar's help. The candidate rose, wearily walked out of the track, and complained of chest pain. Dr Jagadish, who was present on the ground on our requisition, administered him first aid and put him on ventilator in an ambulance stationed at the spot," Ramamurthy, a retired KSRP assistant sub-inspector monitoring the test.

On Dr Jagadish's advice, Chandrashekar was taken to St John's Hospital, 1.5 km away.

"When the ambulance entered the hospital gate, Chandrashekar twice had spasms and became unconscious," Ramamurthy, who was in the vehicle, said. A little later, doctors declared him dead.

Chandrashekar was a student with Swami Vivekananda College, Chandapura, Hosur Road. He is survived by his elder brother KA Ravindra, an employee of a private company, and parents Anandappa and Yashodamma. Anandappa does odd jobs, while Yashodamma is a homemaker.

Anandappa told he received a call around noon asking him to rush to St John's immediately. The caller told him that Chandrashekar is unwell. "I called my elder son, and we both arrived here to see him dead," the father said.

Ravindra said Chandrashekar drew inspiration from his grandfather Chandappa, who was a subedar in the Army. He followed a rigorous fitness regimen. "He would jog two hours a day and was very healthy. I don't know why God cheated us in this way."

Anandappa said Chandrashekar was healthy and had no disorder.

Quoting doctors, senior police officers said Chandrashekar is suspected to have died of cardiac arrest. An autopsy slated for Tuesday will reveal the exact cause.