Home Guard aspirant faints, dies during fitness test

The Belagavi youth was taking a physical endurance test at Machhe village

A Home Guard aspirant collapsed and died during a physical endurance test held at Machhe village on the outskirts of Belagavi city on Tuesday morning.

Prasad Arujun Talukar (25), a resident of Gayatri Nagar at Khasbag in Belagavi, was taking the physical fitness test conducted at the Karnataka State Reserve Police Ground, Machhe. He was taking part in a 2-kilometre running test, according to police sources. Talukar was on his third round when he collapsed after a suspected cardiac arrest.

“The officials supervising the event rushed him to the ambulance to provide him with first aid. He was then taken to Civil Hospital but the doctors declared him brought dead,” said an officer. Deputy Inspector General (Home Guard) D C Rajappa and Police Commissioner B S Lokesh Kumar visited the spot.

Prasad, who was passionate about joining the Home Guard, the police or the army, had earlier taken part in physical endurance test held in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Davanagere. Hailing from a weavers' family, Prasand was the fifth child and is survived by his parents, four sisters and a younger brother. The Belagavi Rural Police have registered a case.