Odisha: Suspected sunstroke kills two  

Bhubaneswar: Amid the relentless heat wave enveloping Odisha, tragic events unfolded, claiming the lives of two individuals, including a young girl, due to suspected sunstroke on Saturday.

Santosh Jena, aged 34 and a resident of Osala village in Jajpur district, encountered an accident while riding his motorcycle home around noon. He was swiftly transported to the Korei Community Health Centre and later referred to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced care. Unfortunately, despite efforts to transfer him, Santosh passed away before reaching Cuttack.

In another distressing incident, Bhubaneswari Das, a 21-year-old from Kaji Diha in Cuttack city, fell ill shortly after returning home from college at noon. She was rushed to the SCB Hospital via ambulance, initially admitted to the heatstroke ward. Her condition worsened, leading to her transfer to the ICU, where she tragically succumbed during treatment.

While suspicions remain that these fatalities may be linked to sunstroke, official confirmation is pending.

On Saturday, Baripada and Boudh reported the highest maximum temperatures in Odisha, reaching 45.2 degrees Celsius, making them the hottest spots in India for the day.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the mercury exceeded 43 degrees Celsius at 14 locations across the country. Additionally, maximum temperatures surpassed 43 degrees Celsius in various areas of Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, according to the IMD’s weather report.