Unbearable Work Pressure! Pune Bank Manager's Suicide Sparks Outrage

Shivshankar Mitra, a 52-year-old chief manager at the Bank of Baroda’s Bhigwan Road branch in Baramati, Pune, took his own life late Thursday night, leaving behind a note blaming intense work pressure. The incident, captured on the bank’s CCTV cameras, has raised alarm about workplace stress in India’s banking sector.

Mitra, originally from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, had resigned on July 11, citing health issues and overwhelming workload, and was serving his notice period. According to Baramati police, after banking hours, Mitra instructed staff to leave, saying he would lock up. Around 9:30 pm, the watchman departed, unaware that Mitra had earlier asked a colleague to bring a rope. By 10 pm, he used it to hang himself inside his office.

When Mitra failed to return home or answer calls, his wife visited the branch around midnight. Finding the lights on and getting no response, she alerted bank staff, who discovered Mitra’s body. A suicide note found in his trouser pocket expressed regret to his wife and daughter, urged the bank to ease employee pressure, and requested his eyes be donated.

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Police inspector Vilas Nale confirmed Mitra was undergoing medical treatment, though details remain unclear. No individuals were named in the note, and a case has been registered for further investigation.

The tragedy follows similar incidents, with bank unions highlighting systemic issues like unrealistic targets and staff shortages. In 2024, nearly 500 bank employees reportedly died by suicide over a decade, prompting calls for reform.

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