UP Irrigation Department Official Succumbs to Heart Attack During Election Duty in Saharanpur
A senior assistant from the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department collapsed and died of a heart attack while actively serving as a booth level officer in Saharanpur on Tuesday. The tragic incident has sparked concerns about work-related stress among government employees assigned to election-related duties.
Official Collapses During Special Voter List Revision Work
Dushyant Singh Bedi, 42, was assigned to a local school to address objections regarding the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists when he experienced acute chest pain. According to colleagues who knew him well, Bedi had been under immense work-related stress in recent weeks.
The 42-year-old official arrived for work as usual on Tuesday morning. Around midday, after complaining of severe health discomfort, his colleagues rushed him to the district hospital. Medical professionals at the facility declared him dead on arrival, confirming the cause as a heart attack.
Family Left in Precarious Situation
Bedi served as the sole provider for his family, having lost his wife eight years ago. He leaves behind an elderly mother and two young children – Navneet Singh (12) and Simrat (8) – who relied entirely on his income and support.
"We are not shying away from discharging our duties, but the state administration should understand we are human. We've families too," said Amit Sharma, district president of UP Rajya Karmchari Mahasangh, a government employee association. "Forget about weddings, the employees are unable to attend funerals."
Sharma added with concern: "Even after working day and night, our seniors continue to impose so much stress upon us that people like Dushyant are not able to cope with it. Now will the government take care of his children?"
Administration Denies Work Stress Connection
Saharanpur District Magistrate Manish Bansal offered a different perspective on the tragedy. "The official died of natural causes and it is not appropriate that the tragedy should be linked to SIR activity," Bansal stated. "He was working fine and there was no stress situation. We're fully supporting all BLOs and their work is progressing smoothly."
Pattern of Similar Incidents Across Uttar Pradesh
This incident follows a disturbing pattern observed across Uttar Pradesh since the beginning of the Special Intensive Revision exercise last year. According to available records:
- More than 10 booth level officers or assistants have lost their lives in the state
- Causes have included suicide, hemorrhage, and heart attacks
- In most cases, families have cited severe pressure to constantly meet deadlines as contributing factors
The conflicting narratives between government employees and administration officials highlight ongoing tensions regarding work conditions during critical election preparation periods. While the administration maintains that support systems are adequate, ground-level workers continue to report excessive pressure that may be affecting their health and wellbeing.
This tragedy has reignited discussions about workplace stress management protocols for government employees, particularly those assigned to time-sensitive projects like voter list revisions. The incident raises important questions about balancing administrative efficiency with employee welfare during crucial democratic exercises.
