SIR duty pressure linked to 3 govt staff deaths in Karnataka

Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Karnataka, three government employees have died while on duty, raising an alarm.

In Tumakuru, a Village Administrative Officer (VAO) died in a road accident, while in Bengaluru and Bidar, two Booth Level Officers (BLOs) died of heart attack.

Employee unions allege that excessive workload and harassment from superiors during SIR duties caused these deaths, demanding a thorough investigation. Election officials have not yet given an official response.

BLO and VAO deaths

A BLO in Bengaluru South constituency, identified mononymously as Nataraj, died of a heart attack. His family said he had been working continuously late into the night to meet SIR targets. He went to bed after duty but did not wake up the next morning.

Also read: Ground Report: As SIR begins in Delhi, BLOs and voters share concerns

In Amalapur village, Bidar district, a 45-year-old BLO, identified as Sunil, complained of chest pain and collapsed while conducting SIR survey work. Locals rushed him to hospital, but he could not be saved. Colleagues said he had been working continuously for days. A case has been registered at Gandhiganj police station.

Earlier, 26-year-old Bhavana, a VAO in Gooluru panchayat, died in a road accident while heading for SIR duty. Revenue staff alleged she was rushing early morning under duty pressure when the accident occurred.

Staff allege targets and harassment

Unions say superiors are imposing unrealistic deadlines to complete door-to-door voter data collection, causing severe mental and physical stress. Continuous work is leading to health problems.

After Bhavana’s death, revenue staff staged a sit-in protest outside the Tumakuru Deputy Commissioner’s office, demanding reduced workload, safety measures for staff, and review of officials’ conduct.

Also read: Karnataka BLO on SIR duty critically injured in Tumakuru road accident

It is not yet officially confirmed that SIR duty pressure directly caused the three deaths. Staff unions insist the Election Commission (EC) and departments must respond and conduct a formal investigation.

Nationwide BLO deaths

Nationwide, at least 33 BLOs have officially been reported dead due to medical emergencies or suicide during the SIR exercise. However, because political claims and independent findings differ significantly, the true nationwide figure remains highly disputed.

An exhaustive report published by the New Delhi-based think tank, The SPECT Foundation, documented at least 33 verified BLO deaths resulting from severe workload pressure. These were caused by stress-induced medical emergencies, such as sudden cardiac arrests and brain strokes, or by suicide.

Deaths of BLOs during SIR were highlighted the most in West Bengal, with nine officially reported as a result of stress and work pressure. While the Trinamool Congress, then ruling and currently in the Opposition, claimed much higher numbers, submitting a list to the EC citing over 40 to 50 total deaths, the BJP and EC countered these high numbers, accusing the TMC of politicising natural health issues.

(This article was originally published in The Federal Karnataka.)