Amravati teacher on way to census duty dies of heart attack

Amravati: A 51-year-old teacher from Warud in Amravati district, Pradip Ganorkar, died of a heart attack on Saturday morning after leaving home for census duty at Karajgaon village. An award-winning teacher, Ganorkar was a resident of Shivaji Nagar in Warud and worked at the Zilla Parishad Middle School in Karajgaon — 10kms from Warud — where he had been appointed as enumerator for the house-listing phase of the census.As per sources, he left for duty at 7am on Saturday. He stopped at the bus stand to purchase a newspaper but soon began feeling unwell and turned back towards home. Sources said he was admitted to Dr Ram Godhane's clinic, where he suffered a heart attack and passed away.The house listing survey for the census had commenced on May 16. Temperatures in Amravati district have constantly remained between 40°C-45°C this summer, making the fieldwork for census duty under the scorching sun a daunting task. Ganorkar, who was the sole breadwinner of his family, had performed his duty on Friday as well, said sources. He is survived by his wife, a son, parents, brother and a large extended family.Ganorkar's death has cast a pall of gloom on the teachers' community in the district. Teachers' unions on Saturday submitted a memorandum to tehsildar Pankaj Chavan demanding adequate financial aid from the govt for Ganorkar's family, along with all necessary support and relief measures. As per unions, Chavan assured them that the memorandum would be forwarded to the district collector.MLA Umesh Yawalkar and tehsildar Pankaj Chavan paid tributes to Ganorkar and consoled the bereaved family. Representatives of all teachers' unions and fellow teachers were also present for the last rites at the local crematorium in Karajgaon.