Odisha Teachers Die During Census

Two school teachers, Rajkapur Hembram and Anurag Ekka, died within two days in India — Odisha while performing Census duties, allegedly due to heatstroke. Rajkapur Hembram, from India — Mayurbhanj district, died after returning from door-to-door enumeration, while Anurag Ekka, from India — Dibrugarh district, fell ill during duty and later passed away. Family members of Rajkapur Hembram alleged pressure to continue working despite feeling unwell. These incidents follow an earlier death of a census enumerator in India — Hapur district. The state of India — Odisha has been experiencing severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius. The India — Odisha government had issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for census officials, advising them to avoid fieldwork during peak heat hours and stay hydrated. District collectors are investigating the exact causes of death.