Odisha has reported two more deaths of school teachers engaged in Census duties within a span of just two days, with officials suspecting heatstroke as the cause amid soaring temperatures above 37°C in several districts. The incidents, reported from Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh, mark the third such case linked to Census work in the state.
In Mayurbhanj district, Rajkapur Hembram, a teacher at Baidyanath High School in Betnoti block, collapsed after returning from door-to-door enumeration work. He was rushed to a hospital in Baripada but died on Sunday evening while undergoing treatment. Family members said he had become unconscious after completing fieldwork. His school headmistress noted that he had reported discomfort after returning from duty and was assigned multiple villages for enumeration. Relatives also alleged that he had earlier expressed pressure to continue fieldwork despite health concerns.
A similar tragedy unfolded in Sundargarh district, where Anurag Ekka, a teacher at Jarada Government High School in Gurundia block, fell ill while on Census duty on Saturday. He was first taken to a nearby health centre and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital, where he died the same day.
Officials from the Special Relief Commissioner’s office have directed district administrations to examine both cases. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after detailed medical and administrative reports are reviewed. These incidents come close on the heels of another reported death in Sonepur district, where a Census enumerator allegedly died of a heart attack after returning from fieldwork.
In response to rising concerns over heat-related risks, the state government has already issued guidelines for Census workers, restricting field activity during peak afternoon hours and advising precautions such as hydration and carrying oral rehydration solutions.
