A 50-year-old Block Level Officer (BLO) from West Bengal's Memari has died from a stroke, with her family directly linking the tragedy to excessive work pressure during Special Intensive Revision (SIR) activities.
Tragic Collapse at Home
Namita Hansda, the deceased official, collapsed at her residence in Memari late on Saturday night. According to district officials, the collapse resulted from "severe stress because of the mounting workload" related to her duties as a BLO.
The incident occurred on November 8, 2025, when Hansda suddenly fell ill while at home. Family members immediately rushed her for medical attention, but she could not be saved.
Family Points to Work Pressure
Hansda's family has explicitly connected her death to the tremendous pressure she faced while performing her responsibilities during the Special Intensive Revision period. The SIR work involves extensive revision of electoral rolls and other demanding administrative tasks that often require long hours and significant mental exertion.
At 50 years old, Hansda had been serving as a BLO for several years, a position that involves crucial election-related duties at the grassroots level. Her sudden demise has sent shockwaves through the local administrative circles and raised concerns about the working conditions of frontline election officials.
Official Response and Implications
District authorities have acknowledged the role of work-related stress in the tragic incident. The case has highlighted the increasing pressure on election officials during special revision periods, prompting questions about workload management and support systems for government staff.
This incident marks another concerning case of work-related health emergencies among government officials in India. It underscores the need for better stress management protocols and workload distribution, particularly for officials handling critical democratic processes like election management.
The local administration is expected to review the circumstances surrounding Hansda's death and consider measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
