In view of rising number of deaths due to sunstroke in the state, the Orissa Government has again moved the Centre to declare these deaths as natural calamity so that higher compensation could be paid.

"We have moved the Centre afresh to treat the deaths due to sunstroke as natural calamity," revenue and disaster management minister S N Patra said here.

"If it is included in the list of natural calamities, the kin of the deceased due to sunstroke would get higher compensation from both the Centre and the state according to the norms prescribed in the relief code," the minister said.

Earlier, the Centre had turned down the state's request.

At present, the state government provides an ex-gratia of Rs 10,000 to the next of the kin of sun-stroke victims from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, he said.

Altogether 172 sunstroke-related deaths have been reported this year so far in the state, while 81 deaths were recorded in 2009. Similarly, 236, 21, 47, 68 deaths due to sunstroke were registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 respectively.

The highest number of sunstroke-related deaths recorded in this eastern state stands at 2,042 (in 1998).