Gujarat principal dies of heart attack after weeks of relentless BLO workload

AHMEADBAD: A 50-year-old school principal and Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Gujarat died of a heart attack after weeks of exhausting electoral roll duties. His family claims he was under severe work stress, riding nearly 100 km daily and working late into the night to complete voter list entries. Police and district education officials have taken note, while the school suspended classes in mourning. A shockwave has rippled through Kapadvanj taluka of Gujarat after 50-year-old school principal and BLO Rameshbhai Ratilal Parmar died suddenly, his family alleges the death was directly linked to relentless workload, long-distance travel and crushing electoral roll responsibilities. Rameshbhai, who headed Navapura Primary School and lived in Jambudi village, had spent the last fortnight juggling the responsibilities of principal and BLO, a combination that demanded daily bike travel of nearly 94 km, late-night data entry and constant pressure to meet deadlines. On Tuesday night, exhausted after completing work on the voter list revision, he returned home but refused dinner, telling his daughters simply to sleep as he continued battling fatigue. His daughter Shilpa Parmar, speaking with a trembling voice, detailed his punishing routine. For the last fifteen days, because of BLO duty, my father was travelling more than 94 km every day. He used to leave at dawn, finish his work at Navapura and return by 6.30 or 7 pm. Yesterday too he reached home on time. He had tea and then went to my uncles house because our home has no network. He entered voter data till late night, she said, linking each task to the weight building over him. She added that he came home around 11.30 pm, exhausted but determined. My sister and I were studying. He told us to sleep. When I asked if he had eaten, he said no and went to bed. He always woke up at 5 am. But today he didnt. We tried waking him, but he didnt move. He passed away because of the workload of BLO duty. Rameshbhais cousin Narendrabhai confirmed the crushing workload, saying the teacher worked until late at his house due to poor network and had been burdened by heavy voter list duties for ten days. By dawn, the strain had claimed him. When he failed to wake up, the family rushed him to a private hospital in Bayad in their own car, but the doctor declared him dead on arrival, citing a heart attack. Kheda District Primary Education Officer Paresh Vaghela called the teachers sudden death sad and shocking, saying initial reports indicate a heart attack. As investigators gather more information, Rameshbhais death stands as a stark reminder of how excessive administrative pressure can push dedicated public servants beyond human limits, leaving behind unanswered questions and a grieving village.