Two school teachers engaged in Census work die in Odisha amid rising temperatures, sparking concerns over safety during field duties.
April 27, 2026: Two school teachers engaged in Census work died within two days in separate incidents in Odisha, with sunstroke suspected as the cause. The deaths were reported from Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts, where temperatures have crossed 37°C. This marks the third such incident linked to Census-related duties in the state.
In Mayurbhanj, Rajkapur Hembram, a teacher at Baidyanath High School, fell unconscious after returning from door-to-door Census work and later died in a hospital in Baripada. In another case, Anurag Ekka, a teacher from Jarada Government High School in Sundargarh, also fell ill during Census duty and died the same day after his condition worsened despite medical treatment.
Officials said district authorities are investigating the incidents to determine the exact cause of death. The state government has already issued guidelines restricting fieldwork during peak heat hours and advising hydration measures, but the deaths have raised concerns about the risks faced by personnel conducting surveys in extreme weather conditions.