Rourkela, March 12: A teenager from Ganjam, who dreamt of a job with the Central Industrial Security Force, collapsed after a physical fitness test and later died in a local hospital today.

This is the second such incident in a year.

Prasanna Sahu, 19, was taking part in the recruitment test of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) along with others. He appeared for the initial screening of a 5km run at the Rourkela airport road that stretches 2.5kms on each side. The road starts from the airport and touches Space Chowk.

CISF sources said Sahu did well in the first stretch but struggled in the second half. He suddenly slipped midway and fell unconscious. However, before losing his consciousness for a while, he appeared to be in pain. He was rushed to Ispat General Hospital here but lost the battle for his life there around 6.15pm. The temperature in the city today was 37.5 degrees Celsius and there was no casualty team to attend to an eventuality such as this during the fitness test.

Confirming the death, hospital director Sanjeeb Mohanty said: “He was in coma when he was admitted in the morning and died this evening. However, it is yet to be ascertained as to what exactly led to his death, but the initial tests suggests it was case of metabolic ascidosis. This may have happened because of reasons such as an earlier infection or fever, which he might have concealed during the physical test, or over exertion.”

Deputy inspector general CISF Jagbir Singh said: “He had completed the run in 22 minutes, but collapsed after that. We immediately rushed him to hospital, but couldn’t save him.”

Last year, Abakash Sahu, 19, from Rourkela had lost his life under similar circumstances.

Every year, the CISF undertakes such selection process this time of the year.

The recruitment test will continue till March 25. Around 400 to 500 participants attend the test everyday on an average. Attempts to reach senior officials of CISF failed.