A contract worker in Odisha’s Ganjam district collapsed while repairing an electric pole and died at Bhanjanagar hospital on Friday afternoon.
The deceased, identified as Durga Madhab Jena, had worked in the Energy Department as a contractual employee for nearly 18 years. He climbed a pole in Bhaliasahi under Dumakumpa panchayat to restore electricity supply when he suddenly fell ill around 1 p.m.
Co-workers immediately rescued him and rushed him for treatment. They first transported him in a departmental vehicle and later shifted him to an ambulance. Doctors at Bhanjanagar hospital declared him dead on arrival.
Haraprasad Bisoyi, a colleague, said Jena had tried to speak before collapsing but could not. He added that the incident shocked workers who had known him for years.
The death raised questions about outdoor work during peak heat hours. Government rules prohibit labour between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. during severe heat conditions. Workers alleged that authorities ignored these safety guidelines and forced Jena to work in dangerous conditions.
Members of the contract workers’ association demanded compensation for Jena’s family and a government job for one of his relatives. They stressed that his nearly two decades of service deserved recognition and support.
Department officials had not issued any statement by Friday evening.
