Two Odisha Teachers Die During Census Work Amid Suspected Heatstroke Cases

Two school teachers engaged in census enumeration duties in Odisha died within two days in separate incidents, allegedly due to sunstroke amid rising temperatures, officials said on Monday. The incidents were reported from Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts, where daytime temperatures have reportedly crossed 37 degrees Celsius.

In the first case, Rajkapur Hembram, a teacher at Baidyanath High School under Betnoti block in Mayurbhanj district, died on Sunday evening while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Baripada. According to family members, he had become unconscious after returning home from door-to-door census work. He was immediately taken to the hospital, but could not be revived.

School officials confirmed that Hembram had been assigned enumeration duties across three villages. Mamata Das, the headmistress of the school, said he had complained of discomfort after completing fieldwork. His relatives also alleged that he had earlier expressed concerns about being pressured to continue census duties despite falling ill, though this claim has not been independently verified.

Also Read: Rajasthan Villages Grieve As Suspected Encephalitis Claims Lives Of Young Children

In a separate incident in Sundargarh district, Anurag Ekka, a teacher of Jarada Government High School under Gurundia block, reportedly fell ill while on census duty on Saturday and died the same day. He was first taken to the Gurundia Community Health Centre and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Officials from the Special Relief Commissioner’s office said district administrations have been directed to investigate the deaths, and the exact causes will be confirmed after receiving detailed medical and administrative reports. The deaths have raised concerns as this marks the third such incident linked to census or field duties in the state in recent weeks. Earlier, another enumerator reportedly died of a heart attack after returning from census work in Sonepur district, according to an official communication dated April 21. The recurring incidents have intensified scrutiny over working conditions during field assignments in extreme heat.

The state government had already issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for officials engaged in outdoor census work during hot and humid conditions. The guidelines prohibit exposure to sunlight between 11 am and 3 pm and advise workers to stay hydrated and carry Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) during field duties. Despite these measures, the latest incidents have raised questions over implementation and safety enforcement on the ground.

Also Read: Two Children Killed, Woman Injured In Suspected Militant Bomb Attack In Manipur