Senior Bank Manager at Pune dies by Suicide inside Branch, Workload claims yet another Human Life

A senior official at a nationalised bank took his own life at his workplace in Baramati, Pune district, late Thursday night. The chief manager, believed to be in his late 40s, was found hanging inside the bank premises, with a suicide note attributing his extreme action to overwhelming work-related stress. Police officials confirmed the details on Friday, highlighting the growing concerns over mental health and workload pressures in high-stakes professional environments.

The incident unfolded at the bank's branch in Baramati, where the deceased had been serving as chief manager. According to a senior official from the Baramati police station, the man had resigned from his position on July 11, citing health issues and an unmanageable workload as primary reasons. He was in the midst of his notice period at the time of the incident, which police believe may have compounded his distress.

"He was under medical treatment for stress-related ailments, and the note recovered from the scene explicitly mentioned work pressure as the driving factor behind his decision," the official told news agency PTI, adding that the note did not point fingers at any individual or the bank itself.

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The sequence of events leading to the discovery began after regular banking hours on Thursday. The chief manager reportedly instructed all staff members to leave the premises, assuring them that he would handle the closing procedures himself. In a detail that has raised eyebrows, he had earlier asked a colleague to procure a rope, though the purpose was not specified at the time. The bank's security guard departed around 9:30 pm, leaving the premises under the manager's sole supervision. Surveillance footage from the bank's CCTV cameras captured the act, showing the officer using the rope to hang himself from the ceiling around 10 pm, once he was alone.

Concern mounted when the manager failed to return home at his usual time and became unresponsive to phone calls. His wife, growing increasingly anxious, rushed to the bank around midnight. Upon arrival, she noticed the lights were still on but received no response from inside despite repeated attempts to make contact. Alarmed, she immediately alerted other bank staff, who arrived and managed to force open the door. Inside, they discovered the grim scene: the chief manager suspended from the ceiling, lifeless. Emergency services were summoned, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the law and initiated a thorough investigation to rule out any foul play or external influences. "The CCTV footage corroborates the timeline, and the suicide note appears genuine, focusing solely on personal stress without assigning blame," the Baramati police official stated. Preliminary inquiries suggest no immediate signs of coercion, but authorities are reviewing his recent communications, medical records, and interactions with colleagues to build a complete picture. The bank has not yet issued an official statement, but sources indicate that an internal probe may be underway to assess workplace conditions.

Advocacy groups have long called for better support systems, including mandatory counseling and stress management programs in high-pressure industries.

As investigations continue, the family of the deceased is receiving support from local authorities and community members in Baramati. Mental health experts often reiterate the importance of recognizing warning signs such as sudden resignations or requests for unusual items, urging workplaces to foster open dialogues about stress.

This tragedy serves as a loud reminder of the human cost of unchecked professional pressures, calling for prioritising employee well-being alongside operational efficiency.

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