E-Paper
Woman labourer dies of suspected heatstroke in Ambegaon
The incident comes amid a rise in heat-related illnesses across Maharashtra due to soaring temperatures
A 33-year-old woman working as a farm labourer in Pune district died after allegedly suffering heatstroke while harvesting onions in the afternoon heat in Amondi village of Ambegaon taluka on Friday, officials said on Saturday.
The deceased has been identified as Nakusha Balu Supe. She is suspected to be the first heatstroke-related death reported from Ambegaon this season.
According to officials, Supe had come to Amondi for agricultural labour during the ongoing onion harvest season. She was working in the field during the afternoon when temperatures were high. Around 2.30 pm, she suddenly complained of dizziness and collapsed, co-workers said.
She was first taken to a private hospital in Shinoli. As her condition worsened, she was shifted to the rural hospital in Ghodegaon, where doctors declared her dead on arrival around 5 pm.
“Preliminary clinical assessment suggests suspected heatstroke. However, the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem report,” said Dr Tushar Pawar, acting taluka health officer, Ambegaon.
Her body has been sent to the sub-district hospital in Manchar for autopsy. Initial reports indicated subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) as a possible cause of death.
The incident comes amid a rise in heat-related illnesses across Maharashtra due to soaring temperatures.
According to the state health department data, Maharashtra reported 229 heatstroke cases between March 1 and May 7 this year, including two confirmed deaths and three suspected deaths.
One confirmed death was reported from Nilanga in Latur district, where a 60-year-old farmer died in the third week of April. Another fatality involved a 34-year-old fruit vendor in Jalgaon on May 1. Suspected heatstroke deaths have also been reported from Ahilyanagar and Solapur, said Dr Raju Sule, state surveillance officer, public health department, Maharashtra.
Health officials warned that outdoor workers such as farm labourers, construction workers and street vendors are most vulnerable during peak afternoon hours.
“The risk of heatstroke is high between noon and 4 pm. People working outdoors should avoid direct exposure, stay hydrated, and seek immediate medical help if they experience symptoms like dizziness, headache, nausea or weakness,” Dr Sule said.
