Multiple Deaths Among Booth Level Officers Raise Concerns About Electoral Work Pressure Across India

In Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district, a Booth Level Officer (BLO) involved in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work died from a heart attack on Wednesday morning shortly after receiving a call from the tehsildar, according to family allegations.

This incident adds to a concerning pattern, as at least four BLOs across India have died this month, reportedly due to suicide or heart attacks.

Hariram Bairwa, also known as Hariom, was a 34-year-old Grade-III teacher at Sevti Khurd Government School who had been deployed as a BLO. Family members reported that he suddenly collapsed following the tehsildar's call. Despite being rushed to hospital, doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

According to relatives, Hariram had been experiencing severe stress for approximately six days due to excessive pressure regarding his SIR duties. They claimed he had become notably quieter at home and ultimately suffered a heart attack resulting from continuous workload demands.

His brother, Ashish Bairwa, alleged that Hariram was working under significant pressure, often working late into the night and waking early.

Brijmohan Bairwa, Hariram's father, told reporters: "I don't know what the tehsildar said during the call, but five minutes afterward, he suffered a heart attack."

The tehsildar has denied all allegations, stating he merely conveyed instructions from higher authorities.

Khandar Station House Officer Lakshman Singh indicated that no formal complaint had been filed at this time.

This tragedy follows several similar incidents. On November 16, a government school teacher in Jaipur allegedly took his own life, with family members claiming he faced intense pressure to complete voter list-related work for the SIR exercise. Mukesh Jangid, 45, who taught at Government Primary School in Nahri ka Bas while serving as a BLO, allegedly jumped in front of a train near Bindayaka railway crossing.

That same day in Kerala's Kannur district, a 38-year-old school employee working as a BLO for upcoming local elections was found deceased at home in Payyannur. Police registered a case of unnatural death, while family members and neighbors alleged that election-related responsibilities had overwhelmed Aneesh George. According to the FIR, he had been experiencing stress related to the SIR of electoral rolls.

Earlier, on November 9, a BLO in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district died after suffering a brain stroke. Her husband attributed the death to extreme mental stress from work pressure. Officials reported that Namita Hansda, 50, collapsed at her home in Memari due to "severe stress because of mounting workload." Her husband stated she was "worried about meeting the target of completing the SIR exercise within the stipulated timeframe." A district official, however, clarified that her death resulted from medical causes without direct links to SIR duties.

The Special Intensive Revision was previously conducted in Bihar before recent state elections. Last month, the Election Commission ordered SIR for multiple states including Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Puducherry, and two island territories. On Monday, the Commission also ordered 'Special Revision' of electoral rolls in Assam.

Several of these states, including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Assam, and West Bengal, will hold elections in 2026.