Bhubaneswar: At least 20 people succumbed to sunstroke in Odisha since Friday as the state is reeling under intense heatwave conditions. As per an official statement, a total of 99 suspected sunstroke deaths were reported from different districts in the last three days. However, after post-mortem and joint inquiry, 20 were confirmed as sunstroke deaths, while two people died due to other causes.
The other suspected sunstroke deaths are being investigated, the release added.
Most of the suspected sunstroke deaths were reported from Bolangir, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Subarnapur, Sundargarh, and Balasore districts.
Earlier, 42 suspected sunstroke deaths were reported from different districts and six cases were confirmed. Moreover, it was found that six other persons died due to other causes.
Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena and Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu reviewed the heatwave situation with the District Collectors on Sunday. They instructed the District administrations to implement the advisory on heatwaves and take precautionary measures.
The districts were also asked to ensure post-mortem examination of every suspected sunstroke death for sanction of ex-gratia. In addition, a joint inquiry by the local revenue officer (tehsildar) and the medical officer is mandatory to ascertain the exact cause of each death.
