Hamirpur, 4 February 2025: A 56-year-old home guard jawan died while competing in a wrestling match at the Chhinj fair in Makker village, Hamirpur district.
Police said Udham Singh, a resident of Dhudana village in Galore, stumbled and collapsed during the contest on Monday evening. He was taken to Bhota Hospital, where doctors declared him dead after a medical examination.
Hamirpur Superintendent of Police Bhagat Singh Thakur said the cause of death would be confirmed after the postmortem report. “The body was handed over to the family after the autopsy,” he said.
Chhinj fairs, organized across the state, promote local trade and traditional sports like wrestling and kabaddi. Singh, who joined the home guard in 1996, had been competing in these events for four decades.
Spectators and organizers rushed to Singh’s aid when he lost his balance and collapsed. His condition deteriorated quickly, and he was transported to the hospital, but he did not survive.
District Home Guard Commandant Vinay Kumar called Singh a dedicated and hardworking member of the battalion. “We have lost one of our most experienced personnel,” he said.
Police have taken up the investigation.
