Primary School Teacher and Booth-Level Officer Dies After Jumping from Coronation Bridge

KalimNews, Siliguri, January 30, 2026: A 48-year-old booth-level officer (BLO) and primary school teacher, identified as Shravan Kumar Kahar, allegedly died by suicide on Thursday afternoon after jumping from the Coronation Bridge near Sevoke into the Teesta River, police said.

The incident occurred at around 4 pm on Thursday. Kahar, a resident of Dharam Nagar in Siliguri’s Ward No. 1, was serving as a primary school teacher and was also assigned duties as a booth-level officer in connection with electoral work. According to police, his body was recovered about an hour later by personnel from the Rambi police outpost.

Initial reports suggested that Kahar may have been under intense pressure due to work related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. However, other accounts pointed to possible personal and marital issues. Local residents said Kahar had reportedly been facing marital discord with his wife for several years.

Police established his identity from documents found on him after the recovery. A case of unnatural death has been registered, and the body was sent to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) for postmortem examination.

“Based on preliminary investigation, a case of unnatural death has been registered. A probe has been initiated to ascertain the exact sequence of events. We will also question his family members to understand what led him to take such a step,” a senior police officer said.

Following the incident, Trinamool Congress leaders, including Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb, visited NBMCH. The incident has sparked concern among teachers and BLOs regarding the pressures associated with election-related duties.

Police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and all possible angles are being explored.