NCC cadets faint after being made to sit under sun in Odisha city

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Feb 23:

At least 10 students lost consciousness and several others left the National Cadet Corps (NCC) examination mid-way after they were made to sit under the searing sun at Odisha Police High School ground in Tulasipur here on Sunday.

Around 600 cadets from various colleges had descended on the venue to appear for the NCC-C certificate examination, consisting of written and physical tests, spread over six hours.

The first session examination started from 10 am-1 pm and the second session was from 1 pm to 4 pm. However, a quick break was allowed between the sittings.

The examination conducted by Cuttack NCC Group had asked all its units to send cadets to appear for the tests.

The students, who had reached the venue two hours before the scheduled time, were asked to appear in the test out in the open. Resentment brewed among the students after coming to know about the arrangements. But the exam conducting officials were in no mood to lend an ear.

By the half time of the first session of the exam, around 10 students had fainted, several suffered dizziness and blackout, and many students left the examination ground, unable to tolerate the heat.

It had, however, hardly any effect on the examinees as they continued with the process despite students taking ill.

The undergraduate degree examination in various colleges under Utkal University took off today. With the students having a harrowing time at the examination venue yesterday, they have expressed reservations over appearing the tests today.

‘‘After today’s draining experience, it would be taxing to appear for the degree examinations beginning Monday,’’ a cadet said.

As the annual High School Certificate (HSC) examination started today, the Odisha Police High School authorities did not allow the NCC test to be conducted inside the classrooms.

‘‘The NCC-B certificate examination was conducted in the school on February 18. As no written request was placed before us for the NCC-C certificate examination and the annual HSC examination was scheduled to start a day after, we did not allow them to conduct tests inside the classrooms,’’ Headmistress of the school Janaki Sahu said.

Group Commander Col. Rajeev Saxena was unavailable for comment.

With mercury rising since mid February, people will be asked not to stay out in the sun for a long time, District collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra said.

‘‘Though no official directive has been issued to stay indoors in view of the rising temperature, no one can be forced to do so,’’ Mishra said.

Had the NCC officials approached the district administration, alternative measures could have been taken to avoid such situation, Mishra added.