80 candidates fall ill due to overcrowding and poor ventilation during exam at Sealdah Homeopathy College

At Sealdah’s Metropolitan Homeopathy College, 80 candidates taking the Yoga and Naturopathy exams today faced serious health issues due to overcrowding and poor ventilation. The exam, scheduled for 10 AM, attracted candidates from four districts, and the number of participants soon grew to 80. While 20 candidates were sent to the rooftop for practical exams, the remaining 60 were instructed to wait in a narrow, 15x7-foot corridor, which had only one ceiling fan and no windows for ventilation.

As the candidates waited, the cramped conditions began to take a toll on their health. Five candidates became unwell, with one experiencing continuous vomiting. Two female candidates lost consciousness, and their hands and legs were reportedly numb. The lack of air circulation in the room led to discomfort and heightened anxiety among the candidates, some of whom appeared to suffer from claustrophobia.

Despite the alarming situation, exam officials downplayed the incident. One supervisor dismissed it as "exam panic," while another examiner stated that the room did not hold 60 candidates at any point. This led to a confrontation between a candidate and an examiner, which escalated tensions. The incident has raised serious concerns about the management of exam centers and the adequacy of facilities provided for candidates.