Two police recruits died and six others were rushed to the hospital unconscious during a training session at the Police Training College (PTC) Sariab in Quetta.
The incident happened during routine physical exercises at the facility on Tuesday. Officials confirmed the two deaths shortly after the recruits collapsed on the parade ground. While the identities of the deceased haven’t been officially released to the public, their families have been notified.
The six unconscious men are currently in the emergency ward at Quetta’s Civil Hospital. Medical staff are monitoring them for severe heat exhaustion and dehydration, though a formal medical report is still pending. Doctors haven’t said if the recruits are out of danger yet.
The Balochistan police department hasn’t issued a full breakdown of what went wrong, but the tragedy raises immediate questions about the intensity of the drills. Training at the Sariab college—often conducted in punishing temperatures—has faced criticism in the past regarding the physical toll on new recruits and the lack of immediate medical backup on the field.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Balochistan has reportedly sought an immediate report from the college commandant. Investigators are looking into whether the recruits were forced to continue training despite showing signs of physical distress.
For now, drills at the college have been paused. The bodies of the two recruits will be handed over to their families following a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
