A man who fell ill while digging a well at Pallipoyil in Kannur, suspected to be due to heatstroke, passed away in the early hours of Thursday. The deceased was identified as Sanal Kumar MV (37), a resident of Krishna Nivas, Mowanchery, who had recently returned from the Gulf.
Incident Details
Kumar reportedly experienced uneasiness around 1:20 PM on Wednesday while carrying out well construction work at his neighbor Baiju's compound. He was initially taken to a clinic at Pallipoyil and later transferred to Baby Memorial Hospital in Kannur, where he succumbed at 2:55 AM on Thursday during treatment.
Medical Findings
Health department officials in Kannur stated that clinical symptoms and preliminary postmortem findings indicate death due to heatstroke. A senior official reported, "His body temperature had risen to 107°F, and he had developed brain edema. He also suffered cardiac arrest." Relatives noted that Kumar experienced nasal bleeding and a sharp drop in blood pressure, and did not respond to treatment despite medical efforts.
Other Heat-Related Incidents
Several heat-related incidents have been reported amid intense summer conditions. An anganwadi teacher, Anila, was hospitalized after suffering sunburn on Friday and was advised two days' rest by doctors at a government hospital. In Malappuram, a four-year-old girl from Wandoor sustained sunburn while playing outside her house on Wednesday.
District Alert
The Malappuram district collector has issued an alert stating that rising heat can lead to serious health problems and may even result in death. The collector urged avoiding going outdoors between 11 AM and 3 PM and limiting prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
