'Routine run' kills second IMA cadet during 10-km run, five more in hospital

Indian National Security Guard (NSG) commandos display their skills as they take part in a rope exercise during the inauguration ceremony of their regional hub in Mumbai February 23, 2012. The NSG is a federal contingency force established in 1984 and a quick reaction elite force for neutralizing militants, hijackers and kidnappers in situations which are beyond the capability of local forces to handle. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: CRIME LAW MILITARY) - RTR2YB6J

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Days after Deepak Sharma, an Indian Military Academy (IMA) cadet had collapsed and died after the training session for new cadets, another candidate, Nabin Kumar Chhetri has died after the rigorous training, says a report by Times of India.

IMA sources had confirmed on Monday that seven cadets had collapsed during the routine 10-km run of the training schedule out of which five were admitted to the military hospital at Dehradun.

Nabin Chhetri from Darjeeling succumbed to multiple organ failure at 11.50 pm on August 20.

The cadets were at a training camp named "Pahla Kadam”- which is being conducted in the general area of the Badshahi Bagh in Saharanpur district of UP, which also happens to be the first camp that new cadets who join as ‘direct entry’ recruits are taken right after induction.

"During the runback of the exercise, seven gentlemen cadets fell unwell due to dehydration. All the cadets were administered first-aid by the medical officer present and evacuated in specialised ambulances with paramedic support to military hospital, Dehradun," an Army statement said.

It further added that Deepak Sharma, another candidate of the same institute who had died two days back, was rushed to the nearest medical centre in Lehman Hospital at Vikasnagar and passed away on August 18, to be followed by Chhetri who passed away on August 20.

Deepak Sharma had died due to exhaustion from a 10 km cross-country race, which happens to be a regular feature of IMA training.

The ‘Pahla Kadam’ camp is one of the earliest training camps conducted for freshly inducted candidates and held after three months of joining the academy. The level of endurance training is at par with the beginner levels and cadets are given theoretical and practical training on subjects such as map reading, patrolling among other things.

The Army, while expressing anguish about the incidents said that there was a serious lapse in physical fitness of the candidates and raised further questions about how officials failed to see the same during the screening process.

Lt General Gambhir Negi, while commenting on the issue pointed out that more efficient tests were needed for physical fitness before the induction of the candidates into the academy.

Retired Colonel S C Tyagi labeled the incidents as “alarming” and said that said that future officers of the Army are lacking in stamina and physical endurance, and blamed lifestyle choices of the youth for the same.