Chaos Erupts at Bihar Exam Center: One Dead, Several Injured

Patna: A day of examination turned into a day of chaos and tragedy at the Bapu Examination Center in Kumhrar, Patna. The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination was marred by protests, stampede, and ultimately, the loss of a life.

BPSC chairman Parmar Ravi Manubhai said that examinations were held in a free and fair manner in more than 900 centres, where close to five lakh candidates appeared on Friday.

The BPSC CCE 70th preliminary examination was held in a single shift from noon to 2 pm. The examination was held in 912 centres across the state, and of those, free and fair exams were held in 911 centres," Parmar told PTI.

However, in one centre in Patna, some of the candidates snatched questions papers from the invigilators and stormed out of the examination hall screaming that the paper had been leaked. Snatching of question papers from invigilators and showing those to outsiders tantamount to looting public property. Police action will be initiated against these persons who seem to have acted as a part of a conspiracy... we are examining CCTV footage to identify them," he added.

According to eyewitnesses, some candidates alleged irregularities in the examination and started protesting. The situation quickly spiralled out of control, with candidates and outsiders creating a ruckus outside the examination center.

A large crowd gathered outside the examination centre and news channels ran video footage of the DM slapping one of the unruly bystanders and ordering police personnel to round up all those who were indulging in mischief.

In the midst of the chaos, an additional center superintendent, Ram Ekbal Singh, suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his condition, leaving his family and colleagues in shock.

A female candidate also fainted during the commotion and was rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, she is recovering well.

The district administration has assured that the examination process will continue uninterrupted, despite the unfortunate events.

The Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. The police had to use mild force to disperse the crowd and clear the road.

The district administration has warned that those responsible for spreading rumors and disrupting the examination process will be identified and dealt with strictly.

The administration is committed to ensuring the smooth conduct of the examination and the safety and well-being of the candidates.