Bhubaneswar/Baripada Two school teachers involved in census work died within two days due to heatstroke in two separate incidents in Odisha, officials said on Monday.
These incidents occurred in Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts, where the temperature exceeded 37 degrees Celsius.
This is the third accident of its kind in the state.
A report from Petanati in Mayurbhanj district said that Rajkapoor Hembram, a teacher at Badyanath High School under Bitnati block, died on Sunday evening while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Baripada.
He was taken to the medical facility after he was unconscious when he returned from a house-to-house survey for the census, his nephew Lakshmikant Hembram said.
“Rajkapur Hembram complained of discomfort after returning from census work. He was admitted to hospital and died. Three villages have been allocated for census,” said Mamata Das, principal of the school.
Family members of the deceased teacher claimed that he had earlier informed his colleagues about the pressure exerted by the authorities to continue census duties despite his illness.
Another report from Sundargarh district said that Anurag Ekka, a teacher at Garada Government High School under Gurundia district, also fell ill during the census mission on Saturday and died on the same day.
He was first taken to the Community Health Center in Gorundia and later transferred to the District Headquarters Hospital after his condition deteriorated.
Officials at the Special Relief Commissioner’s Office here said that the district collectors concerned are looking into the matter and the exact cause of their death will be known after getting reports from the district authorities.
Earlier, a census taker had allegedly died of a heart attack after returning from the census duty in Sonepur district, an official letter sent to the district collectors on April 21 said.
The state government has already issued standard operating procedures for census officials working during hot and humid conditions.
– It is prohibited to be exposed to sunlight from 11 am to 3 pm due to the high temperature. It is also recommended to hydrate and keep oral rehydration solution on hand while going to field work.
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