BLO Dies At Home While Uploading Voter Data In Rajasthan, Family Alleges Work Pressure

A 42-year-old booth-level officer (BLO) in Rajasthan collapsed and died at his home while working on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, police said on Sunday.

Anuj Garg, posted in Dholpur city’s Gaushala sector, fell at his residence in Pratap Vihar Colony late on Saturday night, minutes after asking for tea. His family alleged that he had been working under extreme pressure due to heavy workload.

Anuj’s sister, Vandana Garg, said he had been working late every night to upload voter forms. “He was uploading voter forms even that night. He asked for tea, but before he could drink it, he collapsed,” she said.

The family rushed him to the district hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. On Sunday morning, Nihalganj

police and the district medical officer, Dr Samerveer Singh, visited his house to record statements. A post-mortem was conducted later the same day.

Anuj Garg, who also worked as a teacher at the Government Senior Secondary School in Bara, had joined service in 2012. Authorities are examining whether long working hours during the SIR process may have contributed to his sudden death.

A similar incident took place in Uttar Pradesh, where 56-year-old BLO Shobharani, posted in booth number 97 in Mohalla Badwan, Dhampur area of Bijnor district, died of cardiac arrest on Saturday night.

Shobharani, a diabetes patient and Anganwadi worker, had been working late the previous night uploading SIR forms. She reportedly complained of severe chest pain and was rushed to a Moradabad hospital, where she passed away.

Her husband, Kripal Saini, said that ongoing preparations for their son’s wedding had added to her stress. However, officials, including District Programme Officer Vimal Chaubey, stated that there was no official work-related pressure on her.

Sub Divisional Magistrate Smriti Mishra confirmed that Shobharani’s family informed authorities about her pre-existing health conditions and that she was taken to the hospital when her condition deteriorated.

(With inputs from agencies)