Workplace Stress! Chennai Software Engineer Electrocutes Self

Chennai: Intense work pressure reportedly led to another death of a professional. In Thazhambur near Chennai, a 38-year-old software engineer allegedly electrocuted himself to death due to suspected work pressure.

Earlier, a 26-year-old chartered accountant, Anna Sebastian Perayil, employed at Ernst & Young (EY), died at her rented accommodation at Pune allegedly due to backbreaking workload, causing a nationwide shock and uproar.

The Union Labour Ministry has initiated an investigation into the death of Anna following her mother’s claim that an unhealthy work culture, which appeared to promote excessive work hours, contributed to her deteriorating health and ultimately caused her death.

In the Chennai incident, the software engineer, Karthikeyan, was alone at her residence when he allegedly electrocuted himself. He had been working at a software firm in Pallavaram, a Chennai suburb, for 15 years.

Jayarani, Karthikeyan’s wife, left for Thirunallaru temple with her friends from a self-help group. Karthikeyan remained alone at home. When she returned on Thursday night, she found the door locked from the inside and received no answer to her calls.

Using a spare key, she entered the house and discovered Karthikeyan unconscious, his body entangled in a power cable that was connected to a main junction box in the hallway.