‘Fatigued’ Rayagada Assistant Collector ends life

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Rayagada: An Assistant Collector of Rayagada district ended his life Sunday allegedly due to “excess work pressure”.
The incident came to the fore after the official was found dead in his room under mysterious circumstances Sunday morning. He was identified as Shiv Prasad Panigrahi. A pall of gloom descended in the district after the incident.
However, the actual reason behind Panigrahi’s death could be ascertained after completion of the post-mortem, chief district medical officer (CDMO) Shiva Prasad Padhi said. Panigrahi was residing at Trinath Mandir Sahi in Raniguda farm area at Rayagada.
He fell sick Sunday morning when family members and neighbours rescued the official in a critical condition and rushed him to the district headquarters hospital (DHH) here, but the doctors failed to save him.
After reports surfaced, collector Pramod Kumar Behera, ADM Sudhakar Sabar, sub-collector Pratap Chandra Pradhan and district officials rushed to the hospital and mourned his death. A case of unnatural death was registered at the Rayagada police station, IIC Nihar Ranjan Pradhan said.
Preliminary medical reports suggested that Panigrahi had taken the extreme step by consuming unspecified number of tablets used for malaria.
Panigrahi’s nephew Krushna Chandra Panigrahi alleged that his uncle was subjected to excess work pressure which could have been the reason for his taking the extreme step. He is reported to have discussed this with his wife, he added.
Although the postmortem report is awaited, it is suspected that the official consumed an overdose of Chloroquine tablets.
Sub-collector Pratap Chandra Pradhan said Panigrahi was an affable person and had good relations with all his colleagues. It is hard to believe that he could have commited suicide, he added.
ADM Sabar denied suggestions that the official was under heavy work pressure and said he had met the official only twice as he was not being given any major assignment.
Collector Behera termed the charges as unfortunate stating that no one is under work pressure in his office.
Notably, Panigrahi had worked .at several places in the undivided Koraput district. He had been transferred to Rayagada two years back. He was dealing with the establishment, Nizarat and election sections at the Collectorate and was on magisterial duty.
He is survived by three daughters and wife Sandhyarani. Earlier, a district welfare officer committed suicide due to alleged pressure at the workplace.