Bageshwar Tragedy: Anganwadi Worker and BLO Dies in Kanda

BAGESHWAR, India — A 47-year-old Anganwadi worker serving as a Booth Level Officer (BLO) was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her residence in Banstoli village, located within the Kanda police station limits of Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar district. Local authorities suspect the death to be a case of suicide, though a formal investigation has been launched to establish the precise cause.

​According to initial reports detailed by ETV Bharat, the deceased, identified as Kamala Devi, wife of Puran Ram, had been performing dual responsibilities as a localized healthcare worker and a election-related Booth Level Officer engaged in Special Summary Revision (SIR) work. Family members noted that she had shared morning tea with her husband shortly before the tragedy occurred.

​Station House Officer (SHO) of Kanda police station, Balwant Kamboj, confirmed that police personnel were dispatched to the site immediately after receiving information regarding the incident. Preliminary on-site observations suggest a probable suicide, though officials clarified that conclusive findings will depend on the detailed post-mortem examination report. As of Monday morning, police have sent the body for autopsy while awaiting a formal written complaint from the family to initiate further statutory procedures.

​The incident has highlighted the operational challenges faced by ground-level electoral staff during voter list mapping and digital data entry processes. While administrative tasks were historically executed manually, recent transitions toward digital systems have reportedly increased technological dependencies and field-level complexities. Authorities noted that local educators and support personnel have been actively assisting field workers to resolve technical glitches during mapping drives.