Rourkela: As many as 10 people died of suspected sunstroke in Rourkela city of Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Thursday.
According to sources, all the victims died in Rourkela Government Hospital in six and a half hours. At least 32 persons with heat related ailments were admitted in the hospital between 1.30 pm and 8 pm on the day.
Dr Sudharani Pradhan, director in-charge of the RGH, said, “Eight persons had arrived dead in the hospital. Two others succumbed while undergoing treatment.”
The rest 22 persons are still undergoing treatment in the RGH. Stating that all the patients had high temperature at the time of admission, Dr Pradhan did not rule out sunstroke as cause of the death. But she said the exact cause would be ascertained after getting the post-mortem report.
All the deceased persons were the residents of Rourkela city and its nearby areas. Five of them have been identified as Ganesh Tantri of Jhadtarang, Premlata Ekka of Kutra, Manju Barik of Chhend, Muni Kumbar of Hatibadi and Sabitri Gauda of Brahmanitarang.
It may be noted that the Odisha government had on May 8 confirmed three sunstroke deaths and 786 heat-related illness in the state this season.
Director of Public Health Dr Bijay Kumar Mohapatra had told the media that three deaths due to heat stroke took place in Dhenkanal, Balasore and Mayurbhanj. Probe is on to ascertain the actual cause of 17 more deaths due to suspected sunstroke reported from different places in the state, he added.
