Investigation into the Deaths of Census Workers in Odisha

Apr 27, 2026, 08:00

Introduction

Authorities in Odisha are investigating the deaths of three people, including two teachers, who became ill while conducting census surveys during a period of extreme heat.

Main Body

Recent deaths occurred in the Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts, where temperatures rose above 37 degrees Celsius. In Mayurbhanj, Rajkapur Hembram, a teacher at Baidyanath High School, died on Sunday evening after losing consciousness upon returning from three villages. Similarly, in Sundargarh, Anurag Ekka, a teacher at Jarada Government High School, passed away on Saturday after his health worsened while receiving treatment at a local health centre. These incidents follow a previous case on April 21 in the Sonepur district, where a census worker reportedly died of a heart attack after completing his duties. Although the recent deaths are suspected to be caused by sunstroke, the Special Relief Commissioner's office emphasized that the official causes of death will only be confirmed once the district collectors submit their final reports. Regarding the situation in Mayurbhanj, Rajkapur Hembram's family claimed that he had told colleagues he felt pressured by administrators to continue working despite being ill. This claim contradicts the official guidelines set by the state government. To reduce heat-related risks, the government has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that prohibits outdoor work between 11:00 and 15:00 and requires workers to carry Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) to stay hydrated.

Conclusion

The state government is now waiting for formal reports from district authorities to determine the exact cause of the deaths and to check if heat-safety rules were followed.

Vocabulary Learning

census (n.)

official count of a population / a systematic enumeration of a population人口普查

Example:The census will be conducted next month.

procedure (n.)

a series of actions performed in a certain order / a systematic process程序

Example:The new procedure requires workers to wear protective gear.

prohibit (v.)

to forbid or prevent something from happening / to disallow禁止

Example:The law prohibits smoking in public areas.

rehydration (n.)

the process of restoring fluid balance in the body / the act of replenishing fluids補水

Example:Rehydration is essential after intense exercise.

sunstroke (n.)

a heat‑related illness caused by excessive exposure to sunlight / a severe heat injury中暑

Example:Athletes are at risk of sunstroke during summer tournaments.

Sentence Learning

Authorities in Odisha are investigating the deaths of three people, including two teachers, who became ill while conducting census surveys during a period of extreme heat.

Relative Clause: The clause 'who became ill while conducting census surveys during a period of extreme heat' adds essential information about the teachers.關係子句: 子句 'who became ill while conducting census surveys during a period of extreme heat' 為關於教師生病的必要資訊。

Recent deaths occurred in the Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts, where temperatures rose above 37 degrees Celsius.

Relative Clause: The clause 'where temperatures rose above 37 degrees Celsius' provides additional information about the districts.關係子句: 子句 'where temperatures rose above 37 degrees Celsius' 為該地區的額外資訊。

Although the recent deaths are suspected to be caused by sunstroke, the Special Relief Commissioner’s office emphasized that the official causes of death will only be confirmed once the district collectors submit their final reports.

Contrastive Conjunction (although): The conjunction 'although' introduces a contrast between the suspicion of sunstroke and the emphasis on confirmation.對比連接詞 (although): 連接詞 'although' 引入對比，將懷疑日曬與確認的重點對照。

The Special Relief Commissioner’s office emphasized that the official causes of death will only be confirmed once the district collectors submit their final reports.

Passive Voice: The verb phrase 'will only be confirmed' is passive, indicating that the confirmation is performed by someone else.被動語態: 動詞片語 'will only be confirmed' 為被動語態，表示確認由其他人執行。

To reduce heat-related risks, the government has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that prohibits outdoor work between 11:00 and 15:00 and requires workers to carry Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) to stay hydrated.

Infinitive Clause of Purpose: The phrase 'To reduce heat-related risks' is an infinitive clause expressing the purpose of the action.目的不定詞子句: 短語 'To reduce heat-related risks' 為不定詞子句，表達行動的目的。