Why did Sarvesh Kumar die?

Sarvesh Kumar was found dead at his home, with a note and video indicating he was unable to cope with the intense work stress from his duties as a Booth Level Officer revising voter lists.

What is a Booth Level Officer (BLO)?

A BLO is a grassroots election official responsible for door-to-door collection of voter details and documents for maintaining accurate voter lists.

What are the working conditions for BLOs in India?

BLOs often work 14-15 hours daily with low pay and face pressure to meet deadlines, leading to significant work stress and health concerns.

Home / Crime and Justice / Teacher's Death: Voter List Stress Ignites Uproar

Teacher's Death: Voter List Stress Ignites Uproar

1 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Teacher Sarvesh Kumar found dead at home in Moradabad.
He left a video apologizing for failing voter list revision.
Kumar cited intense work stress from election duties.

A 46-year-old teacher and Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, was discovered deceased at his residence. A poignant video message surfaced, in which the teacher, Sarvesh Kumar, expressed deep remorse for his inability to complete the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists. He apologized to his family and urged them to care for his four daughters, lamenting the overwhelming pressure of his duties.

Kumar, who was recently assigned BLO responsibilities for the first time, cited extreme work stress as the cause of his distress. His wife discovered him deceased, with a note indicating he could not cope with the demands of his election-related tasks. The incident underscores the broader issues faced by BLOs across the country, who are reportedly working excessively long hours under considerable strain.

This tragic event occurs amidst nationwide discussions concerning the working conditions of BLOs during the Special Intensive Revision process. Families of several deceased BLOs have attributed their deaths to work-related stress. BLOs themselves report demanding 14-15 hour workdays, inadequate compensation, and the constant fear of disciplinary action for missed deadlines, amplifying concerns about the well-being of election officials.