Two school teachers engaged in Census work died within two days in separate incidents in Odisha, allegedly due to sunstroke, officials said on Monday, reported PTI.
The deaths were reported from Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts, where temperatures have been hovering above 37 degrees Celsius. This is the third such incident linked to Census duty in the state.
In Mayurbhanj, Rajkapur Hembram, a teacher at Baidyanath High School under Betnoti block, died on Sunday evening while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Baripada. According to his nephew Laxmikant Hembram, he was rushed to the hospital after losing consciousness upon returning from door-to-door Census enumeration.
Headmistress Mamata Das said, “Rajkapur Hembram complained of discomfort after returning from census work. He was admitted to the hospital and died. He was assigned three villages for census enumeration.”
Family members alleged that Hembram had earlier informed colleagues about pressure from authorities to continue Census duties despite being unwell.
In a similar incident in Sundargarh district, Anurag Ekka, a teacher at Jarada Government High School under Gurundia block, fell ill during Census duty on Saturday and died the same day. He was initially taken to a community health centre and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital as his condition deteriorated.
Officials at the Special Relief Commissioner’s office said district collectors have been asked to look into the incidents, and the exact cause of death will be confirmed after receiving detailed reports.
Earlier, an enumerator in Sonepur district had also died, allegedly due to a heart attack after returning from Census duty, as per an official communication issued on April 21.
The state government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Census officials working in extreme heat conditions. It prohibits fieldwork between 11 am and 3 pm and advises officials to stay hydrated and carry Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) during duty.